India's First Hydrogen-Powered Passenger Train

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The Prime Minister will flag off India's first hydrogen-powered passenger train in Jind, Haryana, on July 17, 2026.

This train is an advanced, zero-emission Hydrogen-Electric Multiple Unit (HEMU).
Engineers developed it by converting old DEMU rakes with clean hydrogen fuel cells and lithium battery systems, avoiding overhead wires or fossil fuels.

Northern Railway executed this ₹136-crore project with equipment supplied by Medha Servo Drives in Hyderabad.
The train uses specialized onboard hydrogen fuel cells imported from Canadian firm Ballard Power Systems.
The main goal is to create clean, self-reliant rail transit along non-electrified or short distance routes.

The fuel cells combine compressed hydrogen from storage tanks with outside oxygen to make electricity, leaving only water vapor and heat as byproducts.
A Lithium Ferro Phosphate (LFP) battery works alongside the fuel cell to supply extra power whenever the train starts or accelerates.
During braking or low speeds, extra electricity from the fuel cell recharges the LFP battery to keep it around 80% charged.

This is one of the world's longest hydrogen trainsets, featuring eight passenger coaches and two power cars that generate 2400 kW (3200 hp).
It will run on the 89-km Jind-Sonipat section in Haryana and can carry up to 682 passengers per trip.
The train will make two round trips daily at a top speed of 75 km/h while burning about 300 kg of hydrogen.
Each driving power car carries a storage rack holding 440 kg of hydrogen compressed at pressures between 200 and 500 bar.
The railways set up a dedicated hydrogen fueling station with a 3,000-kg capacity at Jind.
This fueling station features a chiller unit that cools the gas to -15 degree C to make it dense for safe and quick refueling.