Hydrogen Train

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Recently, the Prime Minister of India flagged off India's first hydrogen-powered passenger train from Jind Railway Station, Haryana. With this achievement, India became the third country in the world, after Germany and China, to introduce hydrogen trains in commercial passenger service.

About Hydrogen Train

• A hydrogen train is a clean-energy train that uses hydrogen fuel cells instead of diesel to generate electricity for propulsion.

• Inside the train, hydrogen combines with oxygen in a fuel cell, producing electricity, while the only direct emission is water vapour. The electricity powers electric traction motors, making the train an environmentally friendly alternative to diesel locomotives.

• Unlike diesel trains, hydrogen trains produce zero tailpipe carbon emissions, making them an important technology for reducing pollution and achieving low-carbon transport.

• Note: Hydrogen is not a primary source of energy. It is an energy carrier, meaning it must first be produced from other energy sources before it can be used.

How Does a Hydrogen Train Work?

• Hydrogen stored in onboard tanks enters a fuel-cell stack, where it reacts with oxygen from the atmosphere.

• This electrochemical reaction generates electricity, which powers the train's traction motors. During braking, the train recovers energy through regenerative braking, which is stored in onboard batteries. These batteries also provide additional power during acceleration and improve overall energy efficiency.

• The only by-product of this process is water vapour, making hydrogen trains much cleaner than diesel-powered trains.

India's First Hydrogen Train

• Indian Railways has launched its first hydrogen train as part of its broader strategy to decarbonise railway transportation and promote clean energy technologies.

• The prototype is currently being tested on the Jind–Sonipat section of the Northern Railway.

• The fuel-cell stack used in the prototype has been imported, while the propulsion system, control system, and overall train integration have been developed indigenously, demonstrating India's growing engineering capabilities under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

• The project is also aligned with the objectives of the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which seeks to develop India as a global hub for green hydrogen production and utilisation.

Hydrogen for Heritage Initiative

• Indian Railways has announced plans to introduce 35 "Hydrogen for Heritage" trains on eight heritage narrow-gauge and metre-gauge railway routes.

• These routes have been selected because conventional railway electrification may be economically expensive or environmentally unsuitable in ecologically sensitive and heritage areas.

• The initiative aims to develop expertise in hydrogen propulsion, fuel-cell technology, hydrogen storage, refuelling infrastructure, and safety standards.

Global Experience with Hydrogen Trains

Germany

Germany became the first country to introduce commercial hydrogen-powered passenger trains through the Alstom Coradia iLint in 2022.

However, several railway operators have gradually shifted towards battery-electric trains because hydrogen trains faced issues such as fuel-cell degradation, high maintenance costs, hydrogen supply constraints, and higher operating expenses.

China

China has introduced hydrogen-powered trains on selected routes as part of its clean transportation initiatives.

Other Countries

Countries including Japan, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States are currently operating pilot projects or demonstration services to evaluate the long-term commercial viability of hydrogen rail technology.

Globally, hydrogen trains are mainly used on non-electrified regional railway lines, where installing overhead electric infrastructure is not economically feasible.

Significance of Hydrogen Trains

Environmental Benefits

Hydrogen trains emit only water vapour during operation, significantly reducing air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and dependence on diesel fuel.

Supports India's Green Hydrogen Mission

The project complements the National Green Hydrogen Mission by promoting the adoption of clean hydrogen technologies in the transport sector and encouraging domestic innovation.

Strengthens Indigenous Manufacturing

Although the fuel-cell stack is imported, the propulsion system, train integration, and control systems have been developed in India. This strengthens the country's railway manufacturing ecosystem and supports the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Diversifies India's Energy Mix

Hydrogen provides an additional clean-energy pathway, reducing long-term dependence on fossil fuels and improving national energy security.

Builds Technological Expertise

The pilot project provides valuable experience in hydrogen production, storage, refuelling, fuel-cell operation, maintenance, and railway safety standards, laying the foundation for future hydrogen-based transportation systems.

Issues and Challenges

Questionable Route Selection

Globally, hydrogen trains are mainly deployed on non-electrified railway lines.

However, India's first hydrogen train is being tested on the fully electrified Jind–Sonipat railway corridor, raising questions about whether this is the most suitable use of hydrogen technology.

High Infrastructure Requirements

Hydrogen trains require dedicated infrastructure for hydrogen production, compression, storage, transportation, and refuelling.

Developing such infrastructure across multiple heritage routes will require substantial investment.

Low Energy Efficiency

Hydrogen undergoes multiple energy-intensive stages, including production, compression, transport, storage, and conversion back into electricity.

As a result, hydrogen-powered trains are generally less energy efficient than battery-electric trains.

Limited Availability of Green Hydrogen

Currently, over 95% of global hydrogen production comes from natural gas, producing significant carbon emissions.

The production of green hydrogen using renewable electricity through electrolysis remains expensive and is still at an early stage of large-scale commercial deployment.

Slow Project Progress

Although nearly ₹2,800 crore has been allocated for hydrogen train development, the deployment of hydrogen trains on heritage routes has progressed relatively slowly.

Is Hydrogen the Best Green Fuel for Railways?

• Hydrogen is not always the most suitable solution for railway transport, particularly where railway electrification already exists.

• Indian Railways has already electrified more than 99% of its broad-gauge network, significantly reducing the need for hydrogen-powered trains on major railway corridors.

• For short and medium-distance regional services, battery-electric trains are generally considered more efficient because they consume less energy, have lower operating costs, and require simpler infrastructure.

• However, hydrogen remains an important clean-energy option for sectors where direct electrification is difficult, such as steel manufacturing, fertiliser production, long-distance shipping, and potentially aviation.

• Therefore, hydrogen should be viewed as a complementary technology rather than a complete replacement for railway electrification.

Way Forward

• India should prioritise hydrogen trains on non-electrified, remote, and heritage railway routes, where electrification is either technically difficult or economically unviable.

• Greater investment is needed in the production of green hydrogen using renewable energy to improve the environmental benefits of hydrogen transportation.

• Before expanding hydrogen rail services, detailed cost-benefit analyses, life-cycle assessments, and operational studies should be conducted to ensure long-term economic viability.

• India should also continue strengthening indigenous capabilities in fuel-cell manufacturing, hydrogen storage technologies, and railway safety standards, while learning from global experiences.

• The Jind–Sonipat hydrogen train should serve as a technology demonstrator, providing practical operational experience before any large-scale deployment.