India's First Hydrogen-Powered Passenger Train

#GS-3 #Science & Technology #Energy #Environment #Sustainable Development #Economy #Infrastructure #Current Events #National

Why in News

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.