JIND, India, July 17, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - India launched its first hydrogen-
powered train Friday, joining a small group of nations testing the technology 
as part of efforts to decarbonise rail transport and cut dependence on fossil 
fuels.

The project is part of a broader push to modernise one of the world's largest 
rail networks while reducing carbon emissions.

The 10-coach train runs along an 89-kilometre (55-mile) route between Jind 
and Sonipat in India's northern state of Haryana, powered by a 1,200-kilowatt 
hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system.

Officials described the system as the world's most powerful for a train.

Hydrogen trains use fuel cells to generate electricity by combining hydrogen 
and oxygen, emitting only water and steam.

"This is a very significant day in the direction of self-reliant India and 
sustainable development," Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who flagged off the 
inaugural journey, said in a social media post.

The railway ministry said the train was "developed entirely in India", 
although senior officials told reporters that some key components, including 
the fuel cells, were imported.

The ministry also inaugurated what it described as the country's largest 
railway hydrogen storage and refuelling facility in Jind, with a capacity of 
some 3,000 kilograms, to "support hydrogen-powered train operations".

The pilot project cost around $12 million, according to a senior railway 
official who acknowledged it was significantly more expensive than a 
comparable conventional service.

However, he said costs were expected to fall as the technology matures.

With the launch, India joins countries such as Germany, Japan, China and the 
United States that are testing or operating hydrogen-powered trains.

India's railways have undergone a major transformation since the first 
passenger steam train puffed out in 1853 from Mumbai.

In recent years, New Delhi has pumped billions of dollars in investment aimed 
at upgrading infrastructure, improving safety and expanding capacity.

The vast network carried 7.41 billion passengers and 1.67 billion tonnes of 
freight last year, official data shows.

India has also introduced its domestically designed Vande Bharat trains, 
which can reach speeds of up to 180 kilometres (112 miles) per hour.

At the same time, the country is building its first high-speed rail line 
using Japanese Shinkansen technology.

Officials expect the bullet train, designed to operate at up to 320 kph, to 
begin service on its first section in 2027.