New Delhi: The Ministry of Railways is preparing to launch India’s first hydrogen-powered train after the prototype successfully cleared load tests, The Indian Express reported.
The train has been developed under Indian Railways’ “Hydrogen for Heritage” initiative, which aims to deploy 35 hydrogen-powered trains on heritage and hill routes. Built at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, the project is part of efforts to promote green transport and achieve zero-carbon goals.
“The much-anticipated hydrogen trainset has successfully passed load tests and will be rolled out shortly,” said U Subba Rao, General Manager of ICF.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently shared a video of the train on his X account, calling it “Bharat’s First Hydrogen Train.” On August 13, the ministry also confirmed the train is set for final commissioning, describing it as a “landmark showcasing India’s rise as a technological powerhouse.”
Earlier this year, Vaishnaw noted that Indian Railways had developed the world’s most powerful hydrogen train engine. While similar trains in other countries produce 500–600 horsepower, India’s version generates 1,200 horsepower using indigenous technology.
With testing complete, Indian Railways is expected to begin trial runs of the hydrogen train soon on the Jind–Sonipat route in Haryana.
