India Tests First Hydrogen Train Coach, Boosts Green Rail Push
Indian Railways has achieved a major milestone by successfully testing the nation’s first hydrogen-powered coach at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Friday.
“First hydrogen-powered coach (Driving Power Car) successfully tested at ICF, Chennai. India is developing a 1,200 HP hydrogen train. This will place India among the leaders in hydrogen-powered train technology,” Vaishnaw shared in a post on X.
The test marks a major milestone in India’s efforts to transition towards clean and green transportation alternatives. The hydrogen coach is part of a broader vision by Indian Railways to deploy 35 hydrogen-powered trains under the “Hydrogen for Heritage” initiative. These trains are intended to operate on heritage and hill routes across the country, with an estimated cost of ₹80 crore per train and an additional ₹70 crore for supporting ground infrastructure per route.
Indian Railways has also initiated a pilot project to retrofit an existing Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) with a hydrogen fuel cell. The project, including the installation of ground infrastructure, is being implemented at a cost of ₹111.83 crore and is planned to run on the Jind–Sonipat section of Northern Railway.
While the running cost of hydrogen-based trains is yet to be firmly established in the Indian context, initial estimates suggest higher operational costs that are expected to decrease as the number of hydrogen trains increases. Beyond economic considerations, hydrogen fuel is widely recognized for its environmental benefits, including zero carbon emissions, making it a key component of India’s clean energy transition strategy.
India’s push toward hydrogen mobility extends beyond the railway sector. In 2024, Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, showcased the country’s progress in green hydrogen energy push by presenting a hydrogen-fuelled bus, developed by Indian Oil, to the visiting Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay, during his official visit.
