India Launches First Hydrogen Train as PM Modi Flags Off World's Highest-Capacity Hydrogen Passenger Rail

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flags off India's first indigenous hydrogen-powered passenger train from Jind, Haryana. Here's everything about its route, technology, speed, features, passenger capacity, safety systems, and how it supports India's green mobility mission.

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The launch of the country's first hydrogen fuel cell train has formally ushered India into the age of green transportation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be launching the country's first hydrogen fuel cell train from Jind Railway Station, Haryana, which would become one of the major landmarks for Indian Railways as it strives to become a more sustainable and carbon-neutral means of transport.

The country has become one of the select few that has managed to make the switch to hydrogen fuel cells for its trains, as the historic train will run on the Jind-Sonipat railway line. However, it's more than just a railway-related project because India is making its way in terms of adopting clean technologies and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

India Enters the Global Hydrogen Rail Club

As India unveils its first ever hydrogen-powered passenger train, it becomes part of an elite group of nations such as the United States, Germany, Japan, and China, which have already tried out or used hydrogen-powered trains.

Nevertheless, there is one unique feature about India’s project – the fact that it was developed, engineered and designed fully in India. In terms of technical data, safety regulations and approvals, India’s R&D organization, Research Design and Standards Organization (RDSO) played a significant role.

This launch will definitely be considered a milestone event for the Indian railways.

India's Hydrogen Train Sets a New Global Benchmark

In contrast to the hydrogen-powered trains being used in Germany and China, which usually operate with just two or three coaches for passengers, the hydrogen train in India has been designed on a grander scale.

It comprises:

• Passenger trainset of 10-coaches

• 2 Hydrogen Driving Power Cars (DPCs)

• 8 Trailer Coaches (TCs)

Being capable of transporting 2,600 passengers at a time, it thus becomes the highest-capacity hydrogen-powered passenger train in the world, thereby becoming a completely new standard for hydrogen rail transportations.

Being driven by a hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system of 1,200 kW of power output, generating almost 3,200 horsepower, it is one of the most powerful hydrogen trains in the world.

While the operating speed of the train has been set at 75 km/h, it has been designed with a design speed of 110 km/h.

How Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology Powers the Train

This new train employs the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) technology to generate electricity on board.

Unlike electric trains that use electricity obtained from the overhead electric lines, the hydrogen present in the train will react chemically with oxygen in the fuel cells to produce electricity which runs the motor of the train.

One of the main benefits of this system is that the following by-products are produced during the process:

• Water vapor

• Heat

There is no production of carbon dioxide or any other pollutant gases, thus hydrogen trains are some of the most eco-friendly trains in the world.

In addition to being environmentally friendly, hydrogen has very high energy density compared to diesel. The energy density of diesel is about 43 MJ/kg while that of hydrogen is about 120 MJ/kg.

Route and Stations Covered by India's First Hydrogen Train

The hydrogen-powered passenger train will operate between Jind Junction and Sonipat, connecting several stations across Haryana.

The route includes:

• Jind Junction

• Jind City

• Pandu Pindara Junction

• Lalit Khera Halt

• Bhambhewa

• Isapur Kheri Halt

• Butana Halt

• Khandrai Halt

• Rabrah Halt

• Lath Halt

• Mohana

• Barwasni Halt

• Sonipat New

• Sonipat Junction

The service is expected to improve regional connectivity while also serving as India's first operational hydrogen rail corridor.

Massive Hydrogen Refuelling Infrastructure Built at Jind

Supporting the train is India's largest railway hydrogen storage and refuelling station, established at Jind.

The facility features:

• Hydrogen storage capacity of nearly 3,000 kg

• Dedicated hydrogen compression systems

• Standby compressors

• Advanced refuelling infrastructure

• Continuous technical monitoring systems

The storage facility has received mandatory approvals from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) and has been independently evaluated by TÜV SÜD Germany.

The infrastructure has also been designed according to globally recognised safety standards, including NFPA-2 and the ISO 19880 series for hydrogen fuel systems.

Advanced Safety Systems Ensure Secure Operations

Given hydrogen's unique characteristics, Indian Railways has implemented multiple layers of safety throughout both the train and its supporting infrastructure.

The hydrogen train is equipped with:

• Hydrogen leak detection systems

• Flame detectors

• Smoke sensors

• Heat detection sensors

• Continuous ventilation systems

• Automatic hydrogen supply shutdown mechanism

• Emergency locomotive operating mode

Additionally, trained railway personnel, scheduled inspections, preventive maintenance programmes, and round-the-clock operational monitoring have been introduced to ensure passenger safety during hydrogen-powered operations.

Supporting India's National Green Hydrogen Mission

The launch aligns closely with the Government of India's National Green Hydrogen Mission, which aims to accelerate clean energy adoption across multiple sectors.

Beyond introducing a new passenger train, the project lays the foundation for a complete hydrogen railway ecosystem that includes:

• Hydrogen production and storage

• Refuelling infrastructure

• Maintenance facilities

• Technical workforce training

• Operational procedures

• Safety standards

This ecosystem will help Indian Railways gradually expand hydrogen-powered operations across additional routes in the future while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

PM Modi to Inaugurate Multiple Development Projects

This hydrogen train inauguration is just one of the many visits that the Prime Minister is making to the state of Haryana, where he will also inaugurate a number of development initiatives worth nearly ₹14,700 crore at Eklavya Stadium in Jind.

Besides the hydrogen train project, there will be other development initiatives worth around ₹4,700 crore to be undertaken in Haryana.

As the day progresses, the Prime Minister is scheduled to make another visit to Jalandhar in Punjab, where he will inaugurate projects worth more than ₹5,470 crore.

India Hydrogen Train Specifications at a Glance

Parameter	Details
Train Type	Hydrogen fuel cell-powered passenger train
Flagged Off By	Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Launch Station	Jind Railway Station, Haryana
Route	Jind–Sonipat
Coach Configuration	10 Coaches
Power Cars	2 Hydrogen Driving Power Cars (DPCs)
Trailer Coaches	8 Trailer Coaches (TCs)
Passenger Capacity	Around 2,600 passengers
Propulsion	1,200 kW Hydrogen Fuel Cell
Power Output	Around 3,200 HP
Maximum Operating Speed	75 km/h
Design Speed	110 km/h
Fuel	Compressed Hydrogen
Technology	Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC)
Electricity Generation	Onboard Hydrogen Fuel Cells
Carbon Emissions	Zero during operation
By-products	Water Vapour and Heat
Overhead Electrification	Not Required
Developed By	Indian Railways with RDSO
Hydrogen Storage	3,000 kg Facility at Jind
Safety Features	Leak, Flame, Smoke & Heat Detection
Monitoring	24×7 Hydrogen Refuelling Monitoring
Maintenance Depot	Shakurbasti, Delhi
Environmental Benefit	Zero-emission Sustainable Transport
National Mission	Supports National Green Hydrogen Mission
Global Significance	World's Highest-Capacity Hydrogen Passenger Train

In addition to being merely a breakthrough in the realm of science and technology, India's first hydrogen powered passenger train signifies a big leap into the future of Indian Railways by using its unique engineering skills, advanced technology, and state-of-the-art safety measures to become one of the top contenders in the field of hydrogen train technology.

By introducing the world's most advanced hydrogen passenger train to its fleet, Indian Railways has made another leap forward towards creating a sustainable railway system. In case this venture proves to be successful, the use of hydrogen train technology might be common in Indian railways in years to come.