India launched its first indegenously built, hydrogen-powered train on Friday, joining a small group of nations testing the technology as part of efforts to decarbonise rail transport and cut dependence on fossil fuels.
The project is part of a broader push to modernise one of the world's largest rail networks while reducing carbon emissions.
The train made up of two hydrogen-powered driving cars and eight passenger coaches will operate in the northern state of Haryana. It can run at speeds of up to 75 kph (47 mph) and carry a maximum of about 2,600 passengers, railway officials said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the "NaMo Green Rail” at Haryana’s Jind railway station on Friday. "NaMo” is a common abbreviation of Modi's first and last names.
"This is a very significant day in the direction of self-reliant India and sustainable development," Modi, who flagged off the inaugural journey, said in a social media post.
The railway ministry said the train was "developed entirely in India," although senior officials told reporters that some key components, including the fuel cells, were imported.
The ministry also inaugurated what it described as the country's largest railway hydrogen storage and refuelling facility in Jind, with a capacity of some 3,000 kilogrammes, to "support hydrogen-powered train operations."
The pilot project cost around $12 million, according to a senior railway official who acknowledged it was significantly more expensive than a comparable conventional service. However, he said costs were expected to fall as the technology matures.
The 10-coach train runs along an 89-kilometre route between Jind and Sonipat in India's northern state of Haryana, powered by a 1,200-kilowatt hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system.
Officials described the system as the world's most powerful for a train. Hydrogen trains use fuel cells to generate electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen, emitting only water and steam.
The pilot project includes hydrogen storage and refueling infrastructure to test the use of the technology in India’s rail network, according to officials.
Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen, producing water vapor as the only direct emission.
Several other countries have introduced hydrogen-powered trains as an alternative to diesel on routes that are not fully electrified.
The launch is part of India’s broader efforts to develop green hydrogen and reduce carbon emissions. India has set a target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2070, with Indian Railways exploring hydrogen as an alternative to diesel on some routes.
Agencies