The Indian Railways is poised for a green revolution that is going to change the course of history. For the very first time ever in the history of the nation, India will see its very own hydrogen train being inaugurated on July 17, 2026, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
It will run on the Jind-Sonipat route in Haryana and will put India in the company of other select countries, such as Germany, Japan, China, and the United States, which are using hydrogen fuel cell technology in order to make rail journeys completely carbon free.
How the Tech Works: From Diesel to Clean Hydrogen
This innovative train was designed by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai and has system integration by Medha Servo Drives. It is a prime example of train retrofitting in which the engineers have managed to transform a conventional Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) rake into a next-generation, pollution-free hybrid train.
This train uses an onboard Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) system that was provided by Canada's Ballard Power Systems.
- Chemical Reaction: The fuel cells are supplied with compressed hydrogen gas and oxygen obtained from the atmosphere.
- Production of Electricity: Electrochemical reaction results in production of stable electrical energy without combustion of any fuels.
- Power Generation: The electric energy generated by the reaction is transmitted to two Driving Power Cars (DPCs) of the train generating 1,200 kW of power each, resulting in total 2,400 kW of traction power for moving the train and operation of its electronics.
- Pollution Free Exhaust: Since there is no combustion of diesel, only by-product of the process is emission of pure water vapor along with small amount of heat.
"Why Hydrogen?"
Hydrogen fuel is known to have an exceptionally high fuel density of 120 MJ/kg as against diesel at 43 MJ/kg. In the case of hydrogen trains, there is a use of a backup battery system which acts as a source of storing additional energy and helps to make acceleration demands easier.
The Route, Timetable, and Passenger Capacity
This new technology will be tested on the Jind–Sonipat route of Northern Railway’s Delhi Division. The train will travel a distance of 89 kilometers in exactly two hours and will make 12 stops along the route.
|
Feature |
Operational Details |
|---|---|
|
Train Numbers |
74010 (Jind to Sonipat) & 74009 (Sonipat to Jind) |
|
Daily Operations |
2 round trips per day (Totaling 356 km daily) |
|
Jind Departure |
07:40 AM \rightarrow Arrives at Sonipat at 09:40 AM |
|
Sonipat Departure |
10:40 AM \rightarrow Arrives at Jind at 01:00 PM |
|
Passenger Capacity |
682 seats, accommodating up to 2,600 passengers total |
|
Speed Cap |
Designed for 110 kmph; initially capped at 75 kmph |
|
Expected Fares |
Highly affordable, ranging between ₹5 and ₹25 |
Dedicated Infrastructure & Multi-Tiered Safety
The functioning of hydrogen network is extremely specific and complicated in terms of supporting infrastructure. In India, Indian Railways created indigenous hydrogen generating, storage, and refueling facility right at the station of Jind. The facility allows producing 420 to 430 kg of hydrogen each day and storing up to 3,000 kg. When working under full passenger capacity, the train will use approximately 300 kg of hydrogen each day.
The priority objective during the intensive two and a half months trial was security. The whole design and high pressure systems of the train were independently verified by TÜV SÜD in accordance with international safety standards.
Additionally, the licenses for compressed gas storage and dispensing were approved by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO). The plant is equipped with automated safety grids, including extremely sensitive hydrogen detectors, flame detectors, and backup compressors to provide totally safe operation of the plant.
The maintenance schedule will be based on Delhi's Shakurbasti depot. For safe transport of the train to the depot, the hydrogen plant will be disconnected, and the train set will be towed as "dead unit" by conventional locomotive.
