The hydrogen-powered passenger service will operate between Jind and Sonipat in Haryana, covering the 89-kilometre route in approximately two hours. The train will halt at 12 intermediate stations during its journey. According to the Ministry of Railways, the 10-coach trainset is powered by a 1,200-kilowatt hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion system and will operate at a maximum speed of 75 kilometres per hour.
The ministry described the launch as another landmark in the transformation of Indian Railways, highlighting India's continued efforts to adopt cleaner transportation technologies. The project also places India among a select group of countries, including Germany, France, China, the United States and Japan, that have either introduced hydrogen-powered trains on selected routes or are actively exploring hydrogen as an alternative fuel for rail transport. Germany pioneered commercial hydrogen rail operations in 2018 when the world's first hydrogen-powered train entered passenger service in Lower Saxony.
Explaining the technology, Harpreet Singh Arora, Professor at the School of Engineering at Shiv Nadar University, said a hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion system generates electricity by combining hydrogen with oxygen from the air inside a fuel cell. The electricity produced powers the train's motors. He explained that the train functions as an electric train that generates its own electricity onboard instead of relying on overhead electric lines.
Moushumi Mohanty, Senior Programme Manager for the Electric Mobility Programme at the Centre for Science and Environment in New Delhi, said hydrogen is stored in high-pressure tanks on the train and reacts with oxygen inside the fuel cell to generate electricity. She noted that the only direct emission from the fuel-cell system is water vapour.
Hydrogen is widely recognised as a clean fuel because its use does not produce carbon dioxide, particulate matter, sulphur oxides or nitrogen oxides, all of which are commonly associated with fossil fuel combustion. The water vapour released during the process remains in the atmosphere only briefly before becoming part of the natural water cycle.
Mohanty explained that the hydrogen used by the train is produced separately, compressed, transported to the refuelling station and then filled into onboard storage tanks. To support the project, an indigenous hydrogen storage and refuelling facility has been established at Jind.
According to the Ministry of Railways, the hydrogen refuelling infrastructure includes hydrogen production or supply facilities, compression systems, high-pressure storage tanks, specialised dispensing equipment and multiple safety systems. Hydrogen is compressed to high pressure, stored onsite and transferred into the train through dedicated dispensing systems designed specifically for hydrogen fuel.
The ministry stated that comprehensive safety measures have been integrated into both the train and the refuelling facility. These include hydrogen leak detection systems, heat detection devices and automatic shut-off mechanisms capable of independently stopping hydrogen supply in the event of any abnormal condition without requiring human intervention. The driver's cabin has also been specially designed to enhance occupant safety and includes an emergency operating mode that enables the train to be moved to a secure location if necessary.
Experts believe the launch represents an important step in India's broader energy transition and climate strategy. Arora said hydrogen-powered rail transport can reduce dependence on fossil fuels and lower greenhouse gas emissions in energy-intensive sectors such as railways.
India's fourth Biennial Update Report submitted to the United Nations on December 30, 2024, presented the country's greenhouse gas inventory for 2020. According to the report, the transport sector accounted for more than 13 per cent of emissions from the energy sector, which itself contributed 92 per cent of India's total carbon dioxide emissions. Road transport was responsible for 94 per cent of transport-related emissions, while railways accounted for only one per cent.
Despite hydrogen's environmental advantages, experts emphasised that its long-term sustainability depends largely on how the fuel is produced. Mainak Mukherjee, Product Analyst at global technology company SLB, said hydrogen can deliver meaningful decarbonisation benefits only if greater emphasis is placed on green hydrogen, which is produced through water electrolysis using renewable electricity. He added that the environmental value of hydrogen depends not only on the fuel itself but also on production methods, supporting infrastructure and the sectors in which it is deployed.
Mohanty said hydrogen deployment should prioritise green hydrogen production, minimise leakage throughout the supply chain, improve fuel-cell efficiency and focus on applications where direct electrification is impractical.
A 2024 study conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan in the United States concluded that green hydrogen could play an important role in powering heavy-duty road transport, railways, aviation and marine transportation, where battery-electric alternatives face limitations related to payload and operating range. The findings, published in the journal Joule, showed that battery-electric transportation is approximately three to eight times more energy efficient than using hydrogen directly or electrofuels produced from green hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide.
Mukherjee said experiences from Germany and France demonstrate that hydrogen-powered trains can effectively complement diesel services on non-electrified regional railway lines where conventional electrification is technically challenging or financially unviable. He added that successful implementation depends on route suitability, shared hydrogen refuelling infrastructure and the widespread availability of green hydrogen to maximise emission reductions.
Mohanty reiterated that hydrogen-powered trains are expected to remain a specialised solution in India because more than 95 per cent of the country's broad-gauge railway network has already been electrified. She said hydrogen's long-term contribution to India's climate objectives will ultimately depend on the availability of affordable green hydrogen and its economic competitiveness on selected railway routes.
Arora said the railway sector provides an ideal testing platform for hydrogen technology because trains operate on fixed routes and predictable schedules, making the development of refuelling infrastructure more practical. He added that rail transport requires sustained high power over long distances, a requirement that hydrogen fuel-cell systems are capable of meeting efficiently.
He further explained that hydrogen fuel cells typically convert hydrogen into electricity with an efficiency of approximately 50 to 60 per cent, while hydrogen production through electrolysis generally achieves an efficiency of around 60 to 70 per cent, depending on the technology and operating conditions.
The launch of India's first hydrogen-powered passenger train represents a landmark moment in the country's pursuit of cleaner transportation. While experts believe electrification will continue to dominate the railway network, the successful deployment of hydrogen technology on selected routes could establish an important complementary solution for reducing emissions, advancing sustainable mobility and strengthening India's long-term clean-energy ambitions.
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