Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off India’s first hydrogen-powered train on the 89-km Jind-Sonipat route in Haryana on Friday, marking the country’s entry into a select group of nations operating hydrogen-fuelled passenger trains. The 10-coach train, which emits only water vapour, can carry about 2,600 passengers, according to livemint.com.
The hydrogen fuel cell train and the electrolyser at Jind station were delivered by the primary contractors Medha and Green-H2B2, while the Hydrogen Refuelling Station was manufactured by Fluitron. The launch event also included the foundation stone laying and inauguration of development projects worth around ₹14,700 crore at Eklavya Stadium in Jind, where PM Modi addressed the gathering, livemint.com reported.
This development places India alongside countries that have operational hydrogen-powered trains, a step forward in adopting clean energy technology in the rail sector. Hydrogen trains produce zero emissions except water vapour, offering an alternative to diesel-powered trains and contributing to India’s broader goals of reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable transport solutions, according to livemint.com.
The hydrogen-powered train will operate on the Jind-Sonipat route, serving passengers in Haryana with cleaner transport options. The ₹14,700 crore worth of development projects launched alongside the train’s inauguration reflect the government’s commitment to infrastructure growth in the region, as detailed by livemint.com.