With this development, India joins a select group of nations, including Germany, Japan, China and the United States, that are actively developing and operating hydrogen-powered railway systems.
The hydrogen train will consist of ten coaches and will be powered by a 1,200 kW hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system. It will operate at a commercial speed of up to 75 km per hour, while trial runs will be conducted at speeds of up to 120 km per hour.
The train set includes two Driving Power Cars, each producing 1,200 kW of power, taking the total installed power capacity to 2,400 kW. The remaining eight coaches have been designated for passenger services. Dedicated compartments have been incorporated to accommodate hydrogen storage cylinders, fuel cell systems, batteries and control equipment.
On a single refuelling, the train will be capable of covering approximately 250 kilometres.
Hydrogen fuel cell technology generates electricity through a chemical reaction involving hydrogen. The process produces only water vapour and heat as by-products, resulting in zero harmful emissions. This makes the train a significantly cleaner alternative to conventional diesel-powered rail services and allows it to generate its own electricity while in motion.
Safety has been a primary focus during the development of the project. Around 27 hydrogen cylinders have been installed at the front of the train and another 27 at the rear. A fully indigenous hydrogen storage and refuelling facility has been established at Jind exclusively for the operation of this train.
The Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation has granted all necessary licences for the storage and supply of compressed hydrogen gas at the facility. A hydrogen compression system, a standby compressor unit and essential spare components have also been installed to ensure uninterrupted operations.
Advanced safety systems, including hydrogen leak detectors and flame detection sensors, have been installed throughout the production, storage and refuelling facility. These systems will undergo regular inspection and maintenance to ensure operational safety.
The train has been designed and developed entirely in India under the Self-Reliant India initiative. The Research Designs and Standards Organisation in Lucknow was responsible for the engineering and design of the project, while manufacturing was carried out by the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai.
The Jind-Sonipat section in Haryana has been selected as the pilot route for the project. Indian Railways had electrified approximately 99.2 per cent of its broad-gauge railway network by November 2025, making it one of the largest electrified railway systems in the world. Consequently, hydrogen-powered trains are not intended to replace the existing electric railway network. Instead, they are planned for routes where conventional overhead electrification is difficult or impractical because of geographical constraints, as well as for heritage railway routes.
The project, known as Namo Green Rail, is being viewed as a demonstration of Indian Railways' capability to develop advanced railway technology domestically. Although hydrogen-powered rail transport remains at an early stage globally, with only a limited number of countries operating or testing such systems, India's entry into this sector represents a significant step towards sustainable, zero-emission and future-ready public transportation.
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