New Delhi: India marked a milestone in eco-friendly rail innovation as Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw introduced the nation’s first hydrogen-powered train, naming it “Bharat’s First Hydrogen Train.” The minister shared a video on X highlighting the train’s components, though the official launch date has yet to be disclosed.
The development follows the successful test run of a hydrogen-powered coach at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai earlier this year.
“First Hydrogen-powered coach (Driving Power Car) successfully tested at ICF, Chennai. India is developing a 1,200 HP Hydrogen train. This will place India among the leaders in hydrogen-powered train technology,” Vaishnaw said.
First Hydrogen powered coach (Driving Power Car) successfully tested at ICF, Chennai.
India is developing 1,200 HP Hydrogen train. This will place India among the leaders in Hydrogen powered train technology. pic.twitter.com/2tDClkGBx0
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) July 25, 2025
With the new train, India is set to join a select group of nations including Germany, France, China, and the United Kingdom that have adopted hydrogen-powered rail transport. The technology uses fuel cells that combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, emitting only water vapor, making it a true zero-emission solution.
The “Hydrogen for Heritage” initiative, announced in 2023, envisions operating 35 hydrogen trains on heritage and hill routes across the country. Each train is estimated to cost ₹80 crore, with an additional ₹70 crore per route for infrastructure.
The Ministry of Railways allocated ₹2,800 crore in the 2023–24 budget to develop this fleet, with all specifications designed by the Research Design and Standards Organization (RDSO) to ensure the trains are entirely Made in India.
India’s first hydrogen-powered train is set to redefine rail travel — clean, green, and future-ready.
A bold step towards sustainable mobility!#RailRevolution #CleanEnergy @RailMinIndia @AshwiniVaishnaw @RavneetBittu @DrLMurugan @PIB_India @DDNewslive @airnewsalerts pic.twitter.com/Wq1uV1ZH44
— Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (@MIB_India) August 13, 2025
What sets India’s hydrogen train apart is its formidable 1,200-horsepower capacity, more than double that of similar trains abroad, which typically operate at 500–600 HP. This leap in performance could position India as a frontrunner in high-powered, clean-energy rail systems.
A pilot project worth ₹111.83 crore is already underway to retrofit a Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) with hydrogen fuel cells for service on the Jind–Sonipat section of Northern Railway. While hydrogen train operating costs are initially higher, they are expected to fall as more units enter service.
Indian Railways’ hydrogen initiative is part of the nation’s broader strategy to achieve zero carbon emissions, with clean hydrogen energy seen as a cornerstone of future transport.
