Charting A Green Course: Hydrogen-Fuelled Trains In India

Charting A Green Course: Hydrogen-Fuelled Trains In India

ddnews.gov.in | Santosh Chaubey | January 31, 2025

India’s pursuit of green hydrogen-powered trains will become a defining landmark in sustainable transport. The government’s emphasis on renewable energy solutions, combined with the proactive efforts of the Indian Railways, is preparing the nation for a transformative shift in its rail network. This shift reflects India’s indigenous technology to excel, from the powerful home-grown hydrogen engine, infrastructure requirements, and green hydrogen production and refuelling – the decisive steps towards a cleaner and more self-reliant future.

India’s Hydrogen Engine: World’s Most Powerful

India’s hydrogen-powered engine, developed with indigenous technology, can deliver an impressive 1200 horsepower, surpassing other hydrogen engines across the world that generally operate at around 500 to 600 horsepower. This locomotive, designed by the Research, Design, and Standard Organisation (RDSO) in Lucknow, underscores India’s innovative approach to addressing the complexities of rail travel across varied terrains. RDSO, a principal research arm of the Indian Railways, ensures that the engine’s enhanced power translates into reliable performance and paves the way for further advancements in green rail technologies.

The Pilot Project and “Hydrogen for Heritage”

The Ministry of Railways, Government of India, announced the “Hydrogen for Heritage” project in 2023. In the 2023–24 Union Budget, around ₹2,800 crore has been earmarked for developing 35 hydrogen fuel cell trains, with an additional ₹600 crore for related hydrogen energy infrastructure to be run on various heritage and hill routes. The estimated cost of each hydrogen-powered train is Rs 80 crore, while the cost to develop ground infrastructure per route is expected to be Rs 60 crore. A pilot project is being implemented for the first trial run in the initial phase.

As part of this venture, existing Diesel-Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) rakes will be retrofitted with green hydrogen fuel cells. A sum of ₹111.83 crore has been sanctioned to create the ground infrastructure necessary for this modification. The first such DEMU-turned-hydrogen train is anticipated to commence its trial run in March 2025 along the Jind–Sonipat section of the Northern Railway in Haryana, as confirmed by U Subba Rao, General Manager, Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory (ICF). The ICF is currently manufacturing coaches for the pilot train...more
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