HM Amit Shah Flags Off First LNG-Powered Train from Sabarmati Railway Station
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has flagged off India’s first LNG-powered train from Sabarmati Railway Station in Ahmedabad, as part of railway development projects worth INR 1,472 crore focused on cleaner energy, safety and infrastructure.
September 28, 2026. By Mrinmoy Dey
The LNG-powered train operates on a diesel-LNG dual-fuel system, with two 1,400 HP Driving Power Cars at the Sabarmati Integrated Coaching Depot converted to run on both fuels. The system enables LNG to replace nearly 40 percent of diesel consumption.
The development comes alongside a broader shift in the Indian Railways' energy mix, with diesel consumption declining significantly as railway electrification expands. According to Shah, Indian Railways consumed 293 crore litres of diesel in 2015–16, compared with 108 crore litres in 2024–25. He also said that 99.6 per cent of the railway network has now been electrified, with the remaining 0.4 per cent expected to be completed soon.
The minister also highlighted the recent commissioning of a hydrogen-powered train, positioning hydrogen alongside LNG and electricity as part of the railways' emerging alternative-fuel and low-carbon technology portfolio.
Among the other projects inaugurated was an INR 700-crore WAG-12 Maintenance Shed for locomotive engines. A 12,000-horsepower twin-section WAG-12 locomotive was also commissioned. Shah said that the locomotive can haul freight equivalent to nearly 600 trucks in a single operation.
Additionally, the ‘Kavach’ train protection system has been introduced on the Sabarmati–Kalol–Sabarmati rail section at a cost of INR 48 crore to enhance safety. In addition, works have commenced for the implementation of ‘Kavach’ on the Ahmedabad–Palanpur and Ahmedabad–Samakhiali rail sections, as well as the doubling of the Sabarmati–Sarkhej railway line.
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