India Flags Off World's Largest Hydrogen Passenger Train, PM Modi Launches Green Rail Revolution on Jind–Sonipat Route
India has taken a major step towards sustainable transportation with the launch of its first hydrogen fuel cell-powered passenger train. Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the country's maiden hydrogen-powered rail service from Jind railway station in Haryana, marking India's entry into a select group of nations operating hydrogen-powered trains.
The pilot service will run between Jind and Sonipat under Northern Railway and is expected to serve as a testing ground before Indian Railways expands hydrogen technology to more routes across the country.
Unlike conventional diesel-powered trains, the new hydrogen train produces only water vapour as its emission, making it one of the cleanest forms of rail transport available today.
The newly launched train has been completely designed, engineered and integrated in India under the guidance of the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), showcasing the country's growing capabilities in advanced railway technology.
India's hydrogen-powered passenger train consists of ten coaches, including two hydrogen-powered Driving Power Cars positioned at both ends and eight passenger coaches in between. With a carrying capacity of nearly 2,600 passengers, officials say it is currently the world's largest-capacity hydrogen-powered passenger train.
Powered by an advanced 3,200-horsepower propulsion system, the train has been approved to operate at speeds of up to 75 kmph during its pilot phase. Railway officials will closely monitor its performance before considering wider deployment across the national rail network.
The train operates using hydrogen fuel cells that generate electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. Instead of burning fuel like diesel locomotives, the system creates electricity onboard, which powers the train's motors while storing excess energy in batteries for additional efficiency.
Since the only by-products of this process are water vapour and heat, the technology eliminates carbon emissions and significantly reduces noise levels compared to conventional trains. The system also removes the need for continuous overhead electric wires, making it suitable for routes where electrification is difficult or expensive.
To support the new service, Indian Railways has established a dedicated hydrogen production, storage and refuelling facility at Jind with the capacity to store nearly 3,000 kilograms of hydrogen. The facility is equipped with advanced monitoring systems and is designed to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply for operations.
Safety has been a major focus during development. The train features multiple layers of protection, including hydrogen leak detectors, flame sensors, smoke detection systems, automatic shutdown mechanisms and continuous ventilation. Engineers have also installed a conservative safety threshold that automatically shuts down the hydrogen system if even a very small leak is detected.
Officials said the onboard battery system can continue powering the train long enough to safely move it to the nearest station in the unlikely event of a shutdown.
The Jind–Sonipat service is the first project under Indian Railways' broader Hydrogen for Heritage initiative. The government plans to introduce 35 hydrogen-powered trains in the coming years, primarily on heritage and hill routes where environmentally friendly transport solutions can have the greatest impact.
With the successful launch of this service, India joins countries such as Germany, Japan, China and the United States that are actively exploring hydrogen-powered rail technology. The government believes the project will reduce dependence on fossil fuels while laying the foundation for future clean mobility solutions across the transport sector.
