India is poised to make its first milestone towards green transportation as it prepares to introduce its maiden hydrogen train in India by March 31. The pioneering step is towards Indian Railways’ promise of going carbon-zero and making a shift to green energy technology. The Delhi Division of the Northern Railway has handed over the inaugural hydrogen train to run soon on the Jind-Sonipat sector.
Hydrogen Train In India: Towards Green Mobility
India’s move to hydrogen trains comes after the success of converting to electric trains from diesel. Indian Railways is shifting towards a new era of mobility with the adoption of hydrogen fuel cell technology. This comes after the general shift towards efficient and clean transport systems globally.
The Indian train, manufactured by the Chennai branch of Integral Coach Factory (ICF), will change the face of rail travel with a green option for diesel engines. Hydrogen fuel cell technology enables the train to release just water and heat as exhaust, a greener and cleaner way of transportation.
According to ETimes, the Ministry of Railways has also provided ₹2,800 crore in the financial year 2023-24 for the development of 35 hydrogen fuel cell-based trains.
U Subba Rao, General Manager, ICF stated that the hydrogen fuel cell train set is in the process of manufacture. And it will be operational only by March-end. This is a big step towards a zero-emission railway system in India.
India’s Hydrogen Train: World’s Most Powerful Hydrogen Engine
India has made a significant technological leap with the creation of the world’s most powerful hydrogen train engine. It has taken other countries several years to build hydrogen trains with a power rating of 500 HP to 600 HP, but India’s hydrogen train boasts a humongous 1,200 HP output. This feat puts India at the forefront of hydrogen-based rail technology.
The first hydrogen train will travel on the 89-km-long Jind-Sonipat track, marking the beginning of Indian Railways’ foray into clean technology-based energy.
Through minimisation of the use of fossil fuels, the project will reduce carbon emissions and make transport in the country sustainable.
As there is a successful launch of hydrogen trains in India, Indian Railways is paving the way for sustainable mobility in the future. The use of hydrogen fuel cell technology is likely to be adopted by other railway lines, decreasing the carbon footprint of the industry and making the environment cleaner.
Also Read: World’s First Hydrogen Powered Train Inaugurated In Germany
With increasing hydrogen-powered trains in the future, one wonders—how soon will we have a completely green railway system across the nation?
Cover Image Courtesy: @Indianinfoguide/X
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