India’s First Hydrogen Train Set to Roll Out in Haryana with 3-Tonne Green Hydrogen Plant

The pilot hydrogen train project, led by Northern Railway, has entered its final commissioning phase, according to a Haryana government statement in Chandigarh.

The train is scheduled to run on the Jind–Sonipat section of Northern Railway. A dedicated green hydrogen plant in Jind will fuel the locomotive. Using water electrolysis, the facility can store up to 3 tonnes of hydrogen, making it currently the largest on-ground setup of its kind in India. The state has ensured a stable 11 kV power supply to maintain uninterrupted production.

Manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, the train can accommodate 2,638 passengers, making it one of the world’s longest hydrogen-powered trains.

Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, after reviewing the project with Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) officials, directed regular audits of the power supply system and stressed robust backup and rapid-response measures to avoid technical delays during commissioning.

The pilot is part of the Railway Ministry’s ‘Hydrogen for Heritage’ initiative, which aims to retrofit older diesel engines with clean hydrogen technology. Last month, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that the train-set manufacturing is complete, meeting specifications from the Research, Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO).

By replacing diesel with hydrogen fuel cells, the train emits only water vapour and heat, positioning India alongside Germany and China in zero-emission rail innovation. The project serves as a model for decarbonising India’s extensive non-electrified rail network by 2030.

Once operational, India will join an elite group of nations, including Germany, Sweden, Japan, and China, that already operate hydrogen-powered trains, reinforcing the country’s commitment to low-carbon rail transport.