India inaugurates first hydrogen passenger train

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate India's first hydrogen-powered passenger train in Haryana on Friday, July 17, 2026, marking a significant step in the country's clean mobility initiatives. The train will begin service on the 89-kilometer route between Jind and Sonipat stations.

The train operates using hydrogen fuel cell technology, which generates electricity on board through a chemical reaction between stored hydrogen and atmospheric oxygen. This process produces only water vapor and heat as byproducts, resulting in zero direct carbon emissions during operation. Officials described the train as representing the greenest form of rail propulsion, eliminating the need for continuous overhead electrification infrastructure required by conventional electric trains and the tailpipe emissions of diesel locomotives.

Designed and engineered domestically, the train features a 10-coach configuration with a capacity for approximately 2,600 passengers, making it one of the longest hydrogen-powered passenger trainsets developed globally. It is powered by a propulsion system rated at 3,200 horsepower. The train has an operational speed of 75 kilometers per hour and a design speed...