Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India's first indigenously built hydrogen-powered train, named the NaMo Green Rail, at Jind, Haryana, on 17 July 2026. It has begun operations on the Jind-Sonipat section of Northern Railway.

A hydrogen-powered train generates its own electricity onboard using hydrogen fuel cells, instead of drawing power from a diesel engine or overhead electric lines.

Basic Details

Developed by: Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, to design specifications approved by the Research, Design & Standards Organisation (RDSO).
Configuration: 10-car trainset with two Hydrogen Driving Power Cars (DPCs) and eight Trailer Coaches (TCs).
Propulsion: 1,200 kW hydrogen fuel cell system.
Speed: Approved to run at 75 kmph, with a design speed of 110 kmph.
Capacity: Around 2,600 passengers.

Key Features

Fuel Cell Technology: The primary energy source is a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC), which generates electricity by reacting hydrogen with oxygen. Water vapour and heat are the only byproducts.
Battery Support: Each Driving Power Car pairs its fuel cells with Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries and onboard hydrogen storage cylinders.
Energy Density: Hydrogen carries about 120 MJ/kg of energy, nearly three times that of diesel at 43 MJ/kg, making it a high-energy, low-emission fuel.

Hydrogen Infrastructure

Refuelling Facility: A 3,000-kg hydrogen storage and refuelling station has been set up at Jind — the country's largest railway hydrogen facility.
Safety Certification: The Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) has licensed the facility, built to NFPA-2 and ISO 19880 standards and independently assessed by TÜV SÜD, Germany.

Significance

Atmanirbhar Bharat in Rail Tech: Designed and built entirely in India, from the design stage through prototype manufacturing, the project demonstrates indigenous capability in an emerging clean-propulsion technology.
Select Global Club: India joins Germany, Japan, China and the United States among countries piloting hydrogen-powered rail transport.
Supports National Goals: The pilot advances the National Green Hydrogen Mission and India's net-zero commitments, and will generate operating experience for wider adoption of hydrogen trains on the network.