India is set to achieve a new milestone in the history of Indian Railways on 2025 March 31, astonishing the entire world. On this day, the wheels of the hydrogen train will roll on the tracks. From steam engines to electric trains, India is now stepping into the era of hydrogen trains.
At present, the final phase of work is underway at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai. ICF General Manager Subba Rao has stated that India is launching the world’s most powerful hydrogen train. While only a handful of countries have been able to manufacture hydrogen trains, the power of their engines ranges between 500 to 600 horsepower. However, the engine developed by India has double the capacity, boasting 1,200 horsepower.
Hydrogen trains offer several advantages. Firstly, they produce no pollution, playing a crucial role in reducing environmental pollution. Secondly, their operational cost is significantly lower, which means that ticket prices for hydrogen trains will be much lower than those of current trains. Additionally, these trains have nearly double the carrying capacity, which will further help reduce fares.
Subba Rao has revealed that Indian Railways has already invested ₹2,400 crore in this project. In the first phase, a total of 35 hydrogen trains will be introduced. On March 31, India’s first hydrogen train will run on an 89-kilometer route from Jind to Sonipat. Currently, this train has a maximum speed of 140 km/h.