Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off India’s first hydrogen-powered train on the Jind-Sonipat route in Haryana on Friday [1].

The launch represents a strategic shift toward green mobility and clean-energy solutions to reduce carbon emissions across the Indian Railways network [2].

Starting from the Jind railway station, the train operates on an 89-kilometre stretch to Sonipat [3]. The locomotive is designed for an operating speed of 75 kilometres per hour [4]. The train consists of 10 coaches [4] and has a passenger capacity of approximately 2,600 people [4].

Alongside the introduction of the hydrogen-powered service, the Prime Minister announced several other development projects in Haryana. These projects are valued at ₹14,700 crore [5]. Other reports describe the total value of the announced projects as being over ₹14,000 crore [6].

The initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize the nation's transport infrastructure. By utilizing hydrogen fuel, the railway aims to replace traditional diesel-powered engines on specific corridors, reducing the environmental impact of long-distance travel.

Officials said the project serves as a blueprint for future clean-energy transitions in other states. The focus on the Jind-Sonipat corridor allows the government to monitor the efficiency of hydrogen fuel cells in a real-world passenger environment before scaling the technology across the broader national grid.

“India’s first hydrogen-powered train operates on an 89-kilometre stretch.”

The deployment of hydrogen-powered rail marks a transition from theoretical green energy goals to operational infrastructure. By targeting a specific 89-kilometre corridor, India is testing the viability of hydrogen fuel cells as a scalable alternative to diesel, which could eventually lower the carbon footprint of one of the world's largest railway networks.