India’s Hydrogen Train Coach: A Revolution for Indian Railways

Indian Railways tests its first hydrogen-powered coach under the Hydrogen for Heritage initiative. Learn about India's green hydrogen mission, train specs, safety, and emission-free rail travel from Jind to Sonepat.

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Context

  • Indian Railways has successfully tested its first hydrogen-powered coach at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, marking a major step towards launching India’s first hydrogen-powered train.

About the Hydrogen Train Project

  • Launched by Northern Railway in 2020-21, the hydrogen train project involves converting two 1600 HorsePower (HP) diesel power cars into hydrogen fuel cell-powered units. 
  • The project also includes setting up a hydrogen storage and fuelling facility at Jind, Haryana, with a storage capacity of 3,000 kg of hydrogen. 
  • The Research Design & Standards Organisation (RDSO) is leading the design, testing, and validation. 
  • The converted train, comprising 10 coaches and capable of carrying over 2,600 passengers, will operate between Jind and Sonepat in Haryana, covering two daily round trips of 356 km.

Vision and Aim

  • The hydrogen coach is part of a broader vision by Indian Railways   to deploy 35 hydrogen-powered trains on heritage and hill routes under the “Hydrogen for Heritage” initiative (2023).
  • The hydrogen-powered trains will feature a 1,200 HP (horsepower) engine, making it the world’s most powerful hydrogen propulsion system developed for rail transport.
  • It is a key milestone in India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission.

Facets of the Programme

  • Indian Railways’ hydrogen train project involves retrofitting two diesel power cars with hydrogen fuel cell systems, each storing 220 kg of hydrogen in specially designed cylinders at 350 bar pressure. 
  • Given hydrogen’s highly flammable nature, multiple safety measures have been built in, including pressure relief valves, leak and flame detection sensors, temperature monitors, and optimized ventilation systems. 
  • Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies have been conducted to simulate worst-case leak scenarios. 
  • Extensive testing of key components—like the traction and auxiliary converters—has been completed.

Benefits of Hydrogen as an Alternative Fuel

  • Green hydrogen has a higher energy density than batteries and can be effectively stored/transported in large quantities.
  • Hydrogen fuel-cell trains emit only water vapor (zero direct CO₂ emissions): Replacing one diesel train with hydrogen can cut emissions roughly equivalent to the annual CO₂ output of 400 cars.
  • Green hydrogen production has lower infrastructure requirements, with hydrogen-powered locomotives being technically capable of running on existing railway tracks.

Indian Railways further role in Advancing Tech by

  • Expanding pilot projects beyond heritage routes to test feasibility; 
  • Building supply chains (storage, transport, refuelling) on selected routes; 
  • Prioritizing low-frequency, remote routes for cost-effective adoption; 
  • Collaborating with ministries/PSUs to scale green hydrogen production.


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