India Begins Trial Run of The First Hydrogen-Powered Train

India began trial runs of its first hydrogen-powered train on Thursday. The train runs on the Jind–Sonipat section in Haryana. It was developed by the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai with support from RDSO. The trials aim to make Indian Railways cleaner and greener. Officials said the move is part of a push toward sustainable rail transport.

The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai developed the train with technical support from the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO). The train runs on hydrogen fuel cell technology. The system generates electricity by combining hydrogen with oxygen, which emits only water vapour and produces no carbon emissions at the point of use.

The hydrogen-powered train comprises a 10-coach formation, including two driving power cars and eight passenger coaches. The train can carry more than 2,600 passengers and can operate at speeds of up to 140 kmph. Railway officials said it is among the longest hydrogen-powered units currently under trial globally.

Railway authorities set up a hydrogen production and refuelling facility at Jind to support the trial runs. The facility produces hydrogen on-site through electrolysis, which uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The facility has a storage capacity of around 3,000 kilograms of hydrogen. This ensures uninterrupted operations during testing.

Officials said they put extensive safety measures in place before commencing the trials. These include advanced leak detection systems, temperature monitoring devices, and continuous surveillance mechanisms. Railway authorities also conducted multiple safety audits to ensure compliance with international standards.

The project is part of Indian Railways’ “Hydrogen for Heritage” initiative. It aims to deploy hydrogen-powered trains on heritage and hill routes where electrification is difficult or economically unviable.

If the trials are successful, hydrogen trains could significantly reduce India’s dependence on diesel locomotives, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and lower operational costs in the long term. The initiative also places India alongside a small group of countries experimenting with hydrogen-based rail transport, signalling a broader shift towards sustainable infrastructure.