Successfully concluded load tests for hydrogen-powered trainset fleet assembled at ICF factory
India's First Hydrogen-Powered Train on the Verge of Debut
India is set to make a significant stride in sustainable transportation as its first hydrogen-powered train is expected to be rolled out imminently in 2025, following successful trials between Jind and Sonipat stations in Haryana.
The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) has confirmed that the hydrogen trainset has cleared crucial load tests and is now ready for final commissioning. Indian Railways officials have described the launch as "coming soon," with the Railway Minister sharing videos in August 2025 celebrating the milestone.
The hydrogen train, part of the 'Hydrogen for Heritage' initiative, will run on 35 trains across heritage and hill routes, promoting green transportation and zero carbon emissions. This project aims to make India one of the first countries globally to deploy hydrogen-powered trains.
The cost of an individual hydrogen train is estimated to be approximately Rs 80 crore, while the infrastructure cost for routes such as heritage or hill lines is approximately Rs 70 crore. Therefore, a 10-rake formation would roughly cost around Rs 800 crore for the rolling stock alone, excluding extra infrastructure expenditure.
Meanwhile, the Integral Coach Factory also plans to manufacture the Gati Shakthi Freight EMU, a semi-high-speed train designed for e-commerce and FMCG logistics. Additionally, the factory aims to produce 21 Amrit Bharat trains this year and 25 for the next fiscal, including 3,127 LHB (Linke-Hofmann-Busch) coaches and 1,155 Distributed Power Rolling Stock coaches.
The hydrogen trainset rake, manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, has successfully passed load tests and is progressing well, according to its General Manager U Subba Rao. The work entails retrofitting a 1600 HP DEMU (10-car rake) and setting up a Hydrogen fuelling plant at Jind.
In other developments, Ola is reportedly developing indigenous cell and alternate technology for rare earth magnet, as announced by its CEO Bhavish Agarwal. The hydrogen train, being the world's most powerful and longest hydrogen-powered train with a passenger capacity of 2,600, is expected to set new standards in sustainable transportation.
References: 1. India's First Hydrogen-Powered Train to Be Rolled Out Soon 2. India's First Hydrogen Train to Run on Heritage and Hill Routes 3. India's First Hydrogen Train: What We Know So Far 4. India's First Hydrogen-Powered Train to Be Rolled Out in 2025 5. India's First Hydrogen-Powered Train: A Green Leap Forward
- The debut of India's first hydrogen-powered train signifies a significant leap in the finance and technology sectors, as well as the economy and the transportation industry.
- The cost of India's hydrogen trains and the infrastructure for routes like heritage or hill lines represents a substantial investment, with the majority going towards the rolling stock alone.
- The hydrogen train, developed under the 'Hydrogen for Heritage' initiative, will operate on a subscription basis, running on 35 trains across heritage and hill routes, promoting green business and zero carbon emissions.
- The Integral Coach Factory, alongside its plans to manufacture e-commerce and FMCG logistics-focused trains, is also working on retrofitting an existing DEMU train and setting up a hydrogen fuelling plant as part of the hydrogen train project.
- The automotive industry may also benefit from the development of indigenous cell and alternate technology for rare earth magnets, as announced by Ola's CEO Bhavish Agarwal, possibly influencing the public-transit industry's transition to sustainable technology.
- The successful completion of load tests for India's hydrogen trainset marks a positive step in the country's pursuit of being one of the first nations to deploy hydrogen-powered trains, setting new standards in sustainable transportation and potentially leading to future commercial applications within the finance and business sectors.
