The hydrogen plant at Jind produces around 420 to 430 kg of hydrogen a day and can store up to 3,000 kg. That supply feeds India’s first hydrogen fuel-cell train, which Indian Railways is testing on the Jind to Sonipat route in Haryana.
The train is a diesel electric multiple unit converted to fuel-cell power. Its propulsion system is rated at 1,200 kW, 2,400 kW in total counting the two power cars. It runs as a 10-coach set of two power cars and eight passenger coaches. Trial speeds have reached 120 km/h, while service speed is capped at 75 km/h. Range is about 250 km per refuelling cycle.
Integral Coach Factory in Chennai handled manufacturing under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, with technology collaboration from global partners. Status is listed as approved for trials and an early deployment phase.
Why Haryana
Jind was chosen as the pilot corridor because it has a dedicated hydrogen storage and refuelling facility, suits controlled trials and offers a safe setting for testing performance. Indian Railways has put safety systems in place, including PESO-approved storage and dispensing licences.
The Indian Embassy in the UAE shared a video describing the train as the country’s first “Swadeshi” hydrogen-powered train, designed to cut emissions sharply and run with near-zero smoke.
What the pilot is meant to test
Fuel cells combine stored hydrogen with oxygen from the air to make electricity, releasing only water vapour and heat. Batteries on board store surplus energy and support acceleration and regenerative braking. There are no overhead wires and no diesel combustion.
That matters for lines that are hard to electrify. The route fits India’s plan to use hydrogen on non-electrified or difficult-terrain sections, and the technology could extend to routes where full electrification is difficult or economically challenging. Electrification stays the primary strategy. Hydrogen is being seen as a complement for niche and heritage routes.
The obstacles are listed plainly. Full climate benefit depends on green hydrogen, storage and compression are complex, and performance has to be proven across varied climate conditions. India joins Germany, Japan, China and the United States among countries exploring hydrogen rail.
