India’s First Hydrogen Fuel Cell Train

Electricity, Made Onboard

The train generates power onboard, from a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. Water vapour is its only by-product. Unlike diesel traction, it releases no carbon dioxide or particulate matter at the point of use. It runs on the Jind-Sonipat section of Northern Railway, part of Indian Railways’ broader network.

• A 10-coach set: two Hydrogen Driving Power Cars and eight Trailer Coaches, carrying about 2,600 passengers.
• Power output: each power car produces 1,200 kW. Together, both can push the train up to 110 km/h.
• Actual speed: its operating speed on the Jind-Sonipat route is 75 km/h, over an 89 km stretch.
• Coming after electrification: this hydrogen train follows India’s near-total electrification of its broad-gauge network, adding a new option alongside electric traction.

An Unusually Ambitious Design

The train’s core technology is a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell. Hydrogen from onboard cylinders reacts with oxygen from the air, making electricity with no combustion and no smoke. This differs from a purely battery-electric train, since the fuel cell generates power continuously rather than just storing it.

• A small global field: most hydrogen trains running worldwide today have just two or three coaches, for short regional routes.
• India’s scale: its 10-coach, high-capacity design is unusually ambitious by comparison.
• A backup layer: lithium iron phosphate batteries back up the hydrogen cylinders, the same chemistry widely used in electric vehicles for its stability and long service life.

Made On-Site, Not Trucked In

India’s largest railway hydrogen refuelling facility sits at Jind, Haryana. It stores nearly 3,000 kg of hydrogen at a time. The Jind facility produces its own hydrogen through electrolysis, at a green hydrogen plant on site, then compresses and dispenses it straight to the train. This on-site production avoids relying on hydrogen trucked in from elsewhere.

• Fast turnaround: two independent dispensers, working at 350 bar, can refuel both power cars at once.
• Storage pressure: hydrogen is stored at up to 500 bar at Jind, then stepped down to 350 bar for dispensing.

Defence in Depth

Safety follows a “defence in depth” approach. Leak, heat, flame, and smoke detectors work alongside constant ventilation, with an automatic hydrogen shut-off if anything unusual is detected. The hydrogen ecosystem meets international standards, including NFPA-2 and the ISO 19880 series, and holds a licence from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO).

• An outside check: before commissioning, the whole system passed an independent third-party safety review, by TÜV SÜD of Germany.
• What’s next: a trial run on a Delhi route is planned next, extending the hydrogen train programme beyond Jind-Sonipat.

Three Roles, One Project

The train was designed, engineered, and integrated entirely in India. No comparable ready-made hydrogen trainset was imported for this project.

• RDSO: set the technical specifications.
• M/s Medha Servo Drives: integrated the trainset.
• Integral Coach Factory (ICF): handled its exterior design.
• What this shows: this spread of roles, across a design body, a private integrator, and a public coach factory, shows how Indian Railways coordinates complex new projects.

More Energy Per Kilogram

Hydrogen packs far more energy per kilogram than diesel does: about 120 megajoules per kilogram, against diesel’s 43 MJ/kg. Globally, hydrogen passenger trains are still a young technology. Germany was the first country to run one commercially; Japan and China are running pilot projects too. India’s entry into this small global club is notable, given how recently it completed broad-gauge electrification.

• Two larger goals: the project supports the National Green Hydrogen Mission, and India’s long-term Net Zero target.
• A maintenance base: the train’s maintenance base is at Shakurbasti, in Delhi, specially prepared to service hydrogen-powered rolling stock.
• What’s next: Indian Railways is also exploring hydrogen trains for the heritage Kalka-Shimla route, building on lessons from Jind-Sonipat.

Launch and Scale-Up (2026)

India’s first Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trainset was inaugurated on 17 July 2026, entering service on the Jind-Sonipat section. By 25 July 2026, it had run over 1,200 km, saving more than 3,200 litres of diesel, using 2 Hydrogen Driving Power Cars delivering 2,400 kW combined. On 29 July 2026, the government detailed a parallel push into road transport: 12 pilot projects under the National Green Hydrogen Mission now fund 70 hydrogen-powered buses and trucks across 21 routes. 16 new Hydrogen Refuelling Stations back these routes, with total financial assistance of about ₹410.77 crore.