India's First Hydrogen-Powered Train Hits 120 kmph In Trials: How Does It Generate Its Own Electricity?

India is thinking big with its first hydrogen- powered train, completing another round of successful trial runs between New Delhi and Jind. Engineers carried out important performance tests, including emergency braking and stability checks, as Indian Railways prepares to introduce the country's first train powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

The latest trials are part of a pilot project aimed at introducing clean and eco-friendly rail transport on selected routes across the country.

Fresh Trials Conducted Successfully

The latest trial was carried out on Friday between New Delhi and Jind, with the train reaching a maximum speed of 120 kmph on the Jind-Sonipat section.
However, officials said the train's operational speed will be limited to 75 kmph once it begins commercial service.

During the test, railway engineers closely monitored emergency braking distance, oscillation and other technical parameters to ensure the train meets all safety standards. An earlier round of testing between Sonipat and Jind had already been completed successfully.

Although the Railway Board approved the introduction of the 10-coach train in May, Indian Railways has not yet announced an official date for passenger operations.

How India's Hydrogen Train Works

Unlike conventional diesel trains, this train runs on hydrogen fuel cells.
The project involves converting an existing Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) into a hydrogen-powered train by replacing its diesel system with fuel cell technology.

The train has been developed by Hyderabad-based Medha Servo Drives in partnership with Canada's Ballard Power Systems, which supplied the hydrogen fuel cell technology.
The train consists of 10 coaches, including two driving power cars with a combined power output of 2,400 kW, making it the most powerful hydrogen-powered broad-gauge train in the world.

Hydrogen Refuelling Facility at Jind

To support the project, Indian Railways has established a dedicated hydrogen production and refuelling facility at Jind in Haryana.

The plant uses a 1 MW Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) electrolyser capable of producing around 420 to 430 kilograms of hydrogen every day.

The station also has storage capacity of 3,000 kilograms and two dispensing units that allow the train to be refuelled efficiently.
According to officials, the train can travel approximately 250 kilometres on a single tank of hydrogen.

What Is The Need Of Hydrogen Train?

Hydrogen-powered trains are considered one of the cleanest forms of rail transport.
Instead of burning diesel, hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. The only by-products of this process are water vapour and heat, meaning there are no direct carbon emissions during operation.

The technology is expected to play an important role in helping Indian Railways achieve its long-term goal of becoming a net-zero carbon emitter.

Hydrogen trains are particularly useful on routes that are difficult or expensive to electrify, including heritage railway lines and remote sections of the network.

With this project, India joins a small group of countries exploring hydrogen-powered passenger trains. Countries such as Germany, Japan, China and the United States have already developed or tested similar technology.

Germany became the first country to introduce a commercial hydrogen-powered passenger train in 2018 with the Alstom Coradia iLint. Indian Railways hopes its hydrogen-powered train will help reduce dependence on fossil fuels while promoting sustainable public transport.

How a Hydrogen Fuel Cell Generates Power

A hydrogen fuel cell works by combining hydrogen stored inside the train with oxygen from the atmosphere.

This chemical reaction produces electricity, which powers the train's traction motors. Unlike electric trains that receive power from overhead wires, hydrogen trains generate electricity on board.

The system also includes rechargeable batteries that store excess electricity produced by the fuel cells and energy recovered during regenerative braking. These batteries provide additional power whenever the train accelerates.

Each train is estimated to cost around ₹80 crore, while hydrogen production and refuelling infrastructure for each route requires an investment of approximately ₹70 crore.
Under its 'Hydrogen for Heritage' programme, Indian Railways currently plans to introduce hydrogen-powered trains on 35 selected routes, particularly where full electrification is not practical.