The Prime Minister will flag off India's first green hydrogen-powered train on July 17, 2026, from Jind, Haryana as a significant transition towards green and zero-emission transport.

• Green Hydrogen: A zero-emission fuel created by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electricity, such as solar or wind.

• "Hydrogen for Heritage" Project: A 2023 Indian Railways initiative to deploy 35 hydrogen trains on ecologically sensitive and scenic routes (costing ₹80 crores per train and ₹70 crores per route).

Significance for India

• Green Transport: Enables zero-emission rail transport and a clean alternative for non-electrified routes by replacing diesel engines.
• Climate Action: Supports India’s Net Zero 2070 and rail decarbonization by 2030.
• Hydrogen Economy: Boosts the National Green Hydrogen Mission of 2023.
• Energy Security: Reduces fossil fuel imports and promotes indigenous hydrogen technology to achieve goal of energy independence by 2047.

Challenges of Hydrogen Fuel

• High Costs Technology: Green hydrogen and fuel cell technologies remain expensive.
• Hydrogen Storage: Requires storage at very high pressure or cryogenic temperatures, increasing costs and safety requirements.
• Infrastructure: Limited hydrogen production, transportation and refuelling facilities in India.
• Energy Efficiency: Converting electricity into hydrogen and back into electricity leads to energy losses compared to direct railway electrification.
• Safety Concerns: Hydrogen is highly flammable and requires specialised storage, handling and monitoring systems.

Working of Hydrogen Train  The train runs on hydrogen fuel cell technology instead of diesel or overhead electric wires. Hydrogen stored onboard reacts with oxygen from the air inside the fuel cell, producing Electricity (to power the train), and Water vapour (as the only emission). The fuel cell provides a constant power supply. Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO₄) batteries store surplus electricity when power demand is low. During acceleration (higher power demand), the batteries supplement the fuel cell. As the train slows down, excess electricity from the fuel cell recharges the batteries.