The Indian hydrogen-powered train has passed all tests and is about to make its debut on the Jinde-S

Rail Transit Exhibition News Indian Railways is about to launch its first hydrogen-powered train. The project, with a total investment of 13.6 billion rupees (about US$16.4 million), has entered the final preparation stage after successfully completing critical load tests at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai and will soon be operational on the Jind-Sonepat line in Haryana

The project is part of the Indian government's "Hydrogen for Heritage" initiative, which aims to gradually deploy 35 hydrogen trains on traditional and mountainous routes to reduce emissions, reduce diesel dependence and promote green transportation. U Subba Rao, General Manager of ICF, said: "The highly anticipated hydrogen trainset has successfully passed the load test and is progressing well and will be officially launched soon. ”

The first phase of the operation plan

The hydrogen train will run between Jind and Sonipat, Haryana, with two round trips per day, covering a total distance of 356 kilometers. The train is a 10-car power distributed multiple unit (DEMU) that can carry an average of more than 2,600 passengers per day.

Core technical parameters

• Power source: From two original 1600 horsepower diesel-powered vehicles to hydrogen fuel cell system

• Hydrogen storage: Each power vehicle can store 220 kg of hydrogen and uses a 350 bar high-pressure cylinder

• Fuel cell: Hydrogen reacts with oxygen to generate electricity, emitting only water vapor

• Energy replenishment facilities: A new hydrogen refueling station in Kinde has a hydrogen capacity of 3,000 kg, which meets PESO safety standards

• Safety guarantee: Equipped with leak detector, flame sensor, pressure relief system and fire extinguishing system, the safety performance has been verified by TÜV SÜD certification and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) research

Technical partners

• ICF Chennai: Responsible for engineering design and vehicle modification

• Medha Servo Drives, Hyderabad: Responsible for converter, motor and control system integration

All systems have now been successfully verified internally.

Global significance and prospects

This hydrogen train is not only India's first but also one of the few hydrogen railway projects in the world, demonstrating India's international competitiveness in sustainable railway innovation. The project is expected to significantly reduce carbon emissions and fuel import expenditures, while providing a replicable blueprint for the rollout of hydrogen railways in complex terrain.

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