India’s ambitious move towards sustainable transportation takes shape as Indian Railways plans to develop and manufacture hydrogen-powered trains. The Railways Ministry, under the leadership of Ashwini Vaishnaw, aims to issue a call for expressions of interest from global players to contribute to this pioneering initiative.
The initiative involves the development of a prototype for a train powered by hydrogen fuel cells, providing a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional diesel locomotives. Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw expressed confidence in India’s ability to indigenously create a prototype of the hydrogen-powered train by March.
The call for expressions of interest is expected next year, aligning with the completion of the prototype. The proposed technology involves retrofitting hydrogen fuel cells on diesel electric multiple unit (DEMU) rakes. Once developed, these trains would be manufactured through collaborations with both domestic and international railway system manufacturers.
If successful, India would join the exclusive club of countries operating emission-free locomotives. Presently, only Germany has commercially operational hydrogen-powered trains, while the US, the UK, France, and Japan are in the testing phase.
India’s plan includes the retrofitment of hydrogen fuel cells on DEMU rakes, with the prototype expected to initially run on the Jind-Sonipat section in Haryana. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had previously introduced the ‘Hydrogen for Heritage’ scheme in the Budget speech, outlining the intention to operate hydrogen-powered trains on select heritage and environmentally sensitive routes.
The proposal outlines the operation of 35 hydrogen trains at an estimated cost of Rs80 crore per train, with ground infrastructure costs of Rs70 crore per route. The development is a significant step towards integrating renewable energy sources into the country’s transportation sector, marking a shift towards sustainable and eco-friendly practices.
