The hydrogen coach is part of a broader vision by Indian Railways to deploy 35 hydrogen-powered trains on heritage and hill routes under the “Hydrogen for Heritage” initiative (2023).
- The hydrogen-powered trains will feature a 1,200 HP (horsepower) engine, making it the world’s most powerful hydrogen propulsion system developed for rail transport.
- It is a key milestone in India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission
Benefits of Hydrogen as an Alternative Fuel
- Green hydrogen has a higher energy density than batteries and can be effectively stored/transported in large quantities.
- Hydrogen fuel-cell trains emit only water vapor (zero direct CO₂ emissions): Replacing one diesel train with hydrogen can cut emissions roughly equivalent to the annual CO₂ output of 400 cars.
- Green hydrogen production has lower infrastructure requirements, with hydrogen-powered locomotives being technically capable of running on existing railway tracks.
Challenges in Adopting Hydrogen as an Alternate Fuel
- Current limitations of green hydrogen production: Most of the hydrogen produced in the country comes from steam methane reforming (Grey Hydrogen).
- India does not have a high-capacity proton exchange membrane-based electrolyser plant required to produce green hydrogen from renewable energy sources.
- There is no definite roadmap on the extent of hydrogen adoption in the Indian Railways, leading to an uncertainty in the demand.
Indian Railways can advance hydrogen tech by:
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