India has launched its first hydrogen-powered train as part of an initiative to promote greener rail transportation and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The train, introduced on July 18, 2026, runs on an 89-kilometer route between Jind and Sonipat in Haryana, a northern Indian state. It features a 10-coach configuration and is propelled by a 1,200-kilowatt hydrogen fuel cell system, which officials have described as the most powerful of its kind for rail applications worldwide.
Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, producing only water and steam as byproducts. This technology positions India alongside countries such as Germany, Japan, China, and the United States, which are also exploring hydrogen-powered train operations in efforts to decarbonize the transportation sector.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the inaugural journey and characterized the launch as a significant step toward a self-reliant and sustainable India. The Ministry of Railways noted that the train was developed entirely within India, although senior officials confirmed that some vital components, including the fuel cells, were imported. In tandem with the train launch, authorities also opened the nation’s largest railway hydrogen storage and refueling facility in Jind, with a capacity of around 3,000 kilograms, to support ongoing hydrogen train operations.
The pilot project carried an estimated cost of $12 million, considerably higher than that of a comparable conventional train service. A senior railway official expressed confidence that expenses would decline as the technology advances and scales up.
India’s vast rail network, one of the largest in the world, has been undergoing rapid modernization and expansion. In 2025, the system transported approximately 7.41 billion passengers and 1.67 billion tons of freight. Recent upgrades have included the introduction of the domestically designed Vande Bharat trains, capable of speeds up to 180 kilometers per hour, and the construction of India’s first high-speed rail line, using Japanese Shinkansen technology. Officials anticipate that the bullet train, designed to operate at speeds up to 320 kilometers per hour, will commence service on its initial segment in 2027.
This launch represents a milestone in India’s broader efforts to enhance rail infrastructure and promote environmentally sustainable technologies within its transportation framework.