India’s Hydrogen Train Plans Highlight Potential For Sustainable Rail Transport

India's first hydrogen-powered train is set to mark a new phase in the country's clean transportation efforts, but experts believe the technology is likely to have a limited, specialised role rather than becoming the dominant solution for Indian Railways. The launch represents a move away from fossil fuel dependence in an energy-intensive sector, though most of India's broad-gauge railway network is already electrified, reducing the immediate need for hydrogen-powered alternatives.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the hydrogen-powered passenger service on the Jind-Sonipat route in Haryana. The 89-kilometre route will be covered in around two hours, with the train stopping at 12 intermediate stations. The 10-car trainset is powered by a 1,200-kilowatt hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion system and can operate at a maximum speed of 75 kilometres per hour, according to the Ministry of Railways.

Hydrogen fuel-cell trains generate electricity by combining hydrogen with oxygen inside a fuel cell, which powers the train's motors. Unlike conventional diesel-powered trains, the system produces water vapour as the primary direct emission. Experts explained that hydrogen is stored in high-pressure tanks onboard the train and converted into electricity through the fuel-cell process, allowing the train to operate without overhead electric lines.

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The project includes an indigenous hydrogen storage and refuelling facility at Jind. The infrastructure involves hydrogen production or supply systems, compression units, high-pressure storage tanks, dispensing equipment, and safety mechanisms. Railway authorities said the train and refuelling facility have been equipped with hydrogen leak detection systems, heat monitoring devices, and automatic shut-off features to improve operational safety.

Experts said hydrogen's future role in India's energy transition will depend largely on the availability of affordable green hydrogen produced using renewable energy. While hydrogen is considered a cleaner fuel because it does not directly release carbon dioxide or harmful pollutants during operation, the overall environmental benefits depend on how the hydrogen is produced and transported.

India's hydrogen train initiative places the country among nations such as Germany, France, China, Japan, and the United States that are exploring hydrogen-based rail transport. However, experts noted that with more than 95 per cent of India's broad-gauge railway network already electrified, hydrogen trains are unlikely to replace electric trains on a large scale. Instead, they could prove useful on selected non-electrified routes where conventional electrification may be difficult or economically unviable.

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