Jind, Haryana: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off India’s first hydrogen-powered passenger train between Jind and Sonipat, marking the country’s entry into hydrogen-powered rail transport and a significant step towards cleaner mobility.
Addressing a public gathering after inaugurating and laying the foundation stone for several development projects, Modi said the launch had secured a place in India’s transport history, ANI reported.
“Today, the name of Jind and Haryana has been etched into the pages of history. Whenever India’s hydrogen train is mentioned in the future, Jind, Sonipat and Haryana will also be remembered,” he said.
Designed, engineered and integrated in India using indigenous technology, the hydrogen-powered train places India among a select group of countries operating hydrogen-powered passenger rail services.
The train uses hydrogen fuel cell technology, which converts hydrogen into electricity to power the locomotive, emitting only water vapour during operation. The technology eliminates tailpipe emissions associated with diesel trains, reduces dependence on fossil fuels and lowers operating noise levels.
Unlike conventional electric trains, the hydrogen-powered train generates electricity onboard through fuel cells and does not require continuous overhead electrification infrastructure. The use of green hydrogen is also expected to reduce reliance on electricity generated from fossil fuel-based power plants.
The 10-coach train is among the longest hydrogen-powered passenger trainsets developed globally and is equipped with a 3,200-horsepower propulsion system, making it one of the most powerful hydrogen-powered trains currently in operation.
Alongside the train launch, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for several infrastructure projects in Haryana, including sections of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, the Ambala-Kala Amb Highway, the Jind-Gohana Greenfield Highway and the Hansi-Barwala Highway project. He also dedicated an elevated railway track in Kurukshetra, two government medical colleges and laid the foundation stone for a Sikh Museum in Kurukshetra.
