What happened
Indian Railways will begin operations of India’s first indigenous hydrogen-powered train on 17 July 2026. The train will run on the Jind–Sonipat section of Northern Railway as a pilot project for clean rail transport.
The project combines hydrogen fuel cell propulsion, hydrogen storage, refuelling infrastructure, and operational safety systems. Indian Railways says the project is designed to test the feasibility of hydrogen-powered rail mobility in India.
Background and earlier position
Hydrogen fuel cell technology has been emerging globally as an alternative to fossil fuel-based traction. Before this pilot, hydrogen rail transport had already been explored in countries such as Germany, Japan, China, and the United States.
The train has been developed in line with design approval and technical specifications prepared by the Research, Design & Standards Organisation (RDSO). Indian Railways presents the project as a fully indigenous effort aligned with Atmanirbhar Bharat.
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