India successfully tests first hydrogen-powered train, reaches 120 kmph speed

NEW DELHI: India has successfully conducted a high-speed trial run of its indigenously developed hydrogen-powered train. The train reached a speed of 120 km per hour during testing. Officials said the train may enter commercial service later this year after completing further trials. It has been named 'Namo Green Rail.'

The trial was conducted on a specially developed 89-km track on the Jind–Sonipat route in Haryana. Authorities said this is one of the longest dedicated hydrogen train testing routes in the world. The train consists of two driving power cars and eight passenger coaches.

Hydrogen train services were first introduced in Germany in 2018. Similar trains are also operating in countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, China, Japan, and Taiwan.

1000 km on a single charge

1. The train operates using hydrogen fuel cells. Electricity is generated by combining hydrogen and oxygen, and the only emission released is water vapour. It does not produce any noise pollution.
2. The train has a range of up to 1,000 km on a single fuel cycle and a maximum speed of 140 kmph. Officials said it is powered by a 1,200 kW engine, which is reportedly twice as powerful as those used in Germany and China.
3. It can carry up to 2,600 passengers, and onboard facilities like air conditioning, lighting, and fans also run on hydrogen energy.

Two trains ready
India has also set up a green hydrogen production plant at Jind railway station in Haryana. Two hydrogen trains have been built at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, while maintenance work will be carried out at the Shakur Basti shed in Delhi.

Rs 500 per kilogram
The cost of green hydrogen is estimated at around Rs 500 per kilogram. Officials noted that hydrogen-powered engines are about 27% more expensive than diesel engines.