India launches first hydrogen-powered passenger train and reinforces its leadership in sustainable rail mobility

India has taken a significant step toward modernizing its railway infrastructure by launching the country's first hydrogen fuel cell-powered passenger train. Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the new service has begun regular operations between the cities of Jind and Sonipat in Haryana state, reinforcing India's strategy to decarbonize rail transport. This initiative places the country among the nations investing in zero-emission propulsion technologies to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Cutting-edge technology turns hydrogen into a rail transport alternative

The train consists of ten coaches, has a capacity of approximately 2,600 passengers, and covers an 89-kilometer route in about two hours, reaching a top speed of 75 km/h. Its propulsion system utilizes a 1,200-kilowatt hydrogen fuel cell—considered by Indian authorities to be the most powerful hydrogen rail propulsion system ever developed. The electricity needed to power the train is generated on board through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen; this process produces only water vapor as a byproduct, thereby eliminating direct carbon dioxide emissions during operation.

The initiative reinforces India's commitment to innovation, energy security, and reducing transport sector emissions, while simultaneously fostering the development of a hydrogen-focused industrial supply chain and intensifying global competition for sustainable heavy-duty mobility solutions.