Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off India’s first hydrogen-powered train from Haryana’s Jind, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to adopt cleaner and more sustainable modes of transportation. The train, which will run between Jind and Sonipat, is a successful example of the ‘Make in India’ initiative, having been designed by Indian engineers and manufactured by an Indian company.
The launch of the hydrogen train is a testament to the major transformations that have taken place in Indian Railways over the past 12 years. According to the Prime Minister, had the ‘Hormuz’ situation occurred before 2014, the Indian Railways would have come to a complete standstill. However, owing to the significant progress made in electrifying the rail network, railway operations have been able to continue smoothly despite the challenges posed by the situation in West Asia.
The hydrogen train is a significant step towards reducing India’s dependence on fossil fuels and mitigating the impact of climate change. The train has been developed by the Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory (ICF) and will run on a 89-km-long stretch between Jind and Sonipat, with stops at 12 stations along the way. The train will operate at a maximum speed of 75 kmph and will have a capacity of 1,200 kW.
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of various development projects worth around ₹14,700 crore in Jind. He will also be visiting Chandigarh and Jalandhar in Punjab, where he will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate various development projects worth over ₹4,700 crore and ₹5,470 crore, respectively.
The launch of the hydrogen train is a significant milestone in India’s efforts to adopt cleaner and more sustainable modes of transportation. With this launch, India joins a select group of countries, including Germany, Japan, China, and the United States, that are exploring hydrogen-powered trains for cleaner rail transportation.
