India’s First Hydrogen-Powered Train Successfully Completes Load Tests in Chennai under the Leadership of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

National

In August 2025, India’s first Hydrogen (H₂)-powered train successfully cleared load tests at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, under the supervision of the Research Designs & Standards Organization (RDSO) and the Ministry of Railways (MoR) led by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The achievement marks a major step in India’s push towards green and sustainable railway technology.


      - The hydrogen-powered train has been developed by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) at a cost of â‚ą136 crores under the “Hydrogen for Heritage” initiative of Indian Railways.

      - The project is aimed at reducing carbon emissions on heritage and hill routes while promoting green transport solutions.

     

Main Point :-   (i) The train has been designed with a passenger capacity of 2,638 and can achieve a maximum speed of 110 km/h. It will operate on the Jind–Sonipat route in Haryana, covering 89 km, during its initial trial phase.

      (ii) Equipped with advanced technology, the hydrogen train features a 1,200-horsepower hydrogen engine and a 3,000 kg hydrogen storage capacity. This advancement positions India among the world leaders in hydrogen-powered railway innovation.

(iii) The “Hydrogen for Heritage” programme plans to deploy a total of 35 hydrogen-powered trains across India’s heritage and hilly routes. This initiative aligns with India’s broader climate goals and its commitment to reducing dependency on fossil fuels in the transport sector.
About Ministry of Railways (MoR)

Minister : Ashwini Vaishnaw
Headquarters: New Delhi
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