On 17 July 2026, India launched its first hydrogen-powered passenger train, a 10-coach trainset that began trial service on the 89-km Jind–Sonipat section in Haryana. The flag-off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi places India among a small group of nations—including Germany, Japan, China and the United States—that are testing or operating hydrogen fuel-cell rail technology. The pilot project, developed at a cost of approximately Rs 141 crore ($12 million), is designed to assess safety, reliability and operational economics before any wider deployment.

The train generates electricity onboard using a proton exchange membrane fuel cell that combines hydrogen stored in high-pressure cylinders with atmospheric oxygen. The electrochemical reaction produces only water vapour and heat, eliminating tailpipe carbon emissions and reducing noise compared with diesel traction. Indian Railways describes the 1,200 kW propulsion system as the world’s most powerful for a hydrogen train, though officials acknowledge that key components, including the fuel cells, were imported. A dedicated hydrogen production, compression and refuelling facility at Jind, with a storage capacity of 3,000 kg, supports operations; the refuelling station was built by Fluitron, while the train was integrated by Medha Servo Drives with design input from the Research Designs and Standards Organisation.

The launch occurs against the backdrop of a nearly fully electrified railway network—99% of routes now run on electric traction, up from 30% in 2014, according to government figures. Officials in New Delhi frame the hydrogen train as a hedge against oil supply disruptions, citing the ongoing conflict in the Strait of Hormuz region, and as a tool for decarbonising the remaining non-electrified and heritage routes where overhead electrification is impractical. The pilot’s economics remain challenging: the per-unit cost far exceeds that of a conventional diesel or electric multiple unit, though railway officials expect costs to decline as the technology matures and domestic manufacturing scales up.

The Haryana state government and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party have promoted the train with the colloquial slogan “paani waali rail” (water train), a simplification that highlights the water-vapour exhaust but obscures the hydrogen fuel-cell process. Fares on the service start at Rs 5, lower than platform ticket charges at many stations, a pricing strategy that appears aimed at building public acceptance. Indian Railways has indicated that testing will next extend to the Sonipat–Delhi section, and that insights from the Jind–Sonipat pilot will inform possible hydrogen traction on mountain and heritage corridors such as the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and the Kalka–Shimla line. No date has been set for commercial scaling.