Green Rail Revolution: PM Modi Flags Off India’s First Indigenous Hydrogen-Powered Train from Haryana’s Jind

Marking a historic milestone in sustainable transportation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off India’s very first hydrogen-powered train from the Jind railway station in Haryana on Friday, July 17, 2026. This landmark launch positions India among an elite group of nations—including Germany, China, Japan, and the United States—actively implementing or testing zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell technology. Operating on the 89-kilometer Jind-Sonipat broad-gauge section under Northern Railway, the indigenously developed train is a proud symbol of the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative, with its entire design, engineering, and IP rights retained domestically. Unlike traditional electric locomotives reliant on overhead power grids, this innovative 10-coach train generates its own electricity onboard by mixing stored hydrogen with atmospheric oxygen inside fuel cells. The chemical reaction produces only water vapor and heat as by-products, ensuring near-zero carbon emissions at the point of use.

Accommodating up to 2,600 passengers, the train features a robust 3,200 horsepower propulsion system, making it one of the longest and most powerful hydrogen passenger trainsets currently operating globally. It will complete the daily run in exactly two hours, traveling at a maximum speed of 75 km/h. To support this clean-energy transition, the Ministry of Railways established the country’s largest integrated hydrogen refueling and storage facility in Jind, capable of housing 3,000 kilograms of fuel. Equipped with advanced multi-layered safety features like automatic fuel shut-offs, leak detectors, and continuous ventilation certified by Germany’s TUV SUD, the pilot project lays a solid, sustainable foundation for future deployments across remote and heritage routes, driving India closer to its net-zero carbon emission targets.