Which State Will Launch The First Hydrogen-Powered Train?

Good news! Indian Railways has planned to roll out its hydrogen fuel cell train by December 2024, in what will be a great advancement for green means of transport. The train will be operational along the Jind-Sonipat corridor in the state of Haryana.

Haryana To Will Launch The First Hydrogen-Powered Train

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Let’s Find Out More About This Train:

1) India’s first Hydrogen-Powered train: The debut of the Hydrogen-Powered Train is slated for December 2024. This is a giant leap forward in eco-friendly transportation with the maiden 90km Jind-Sonipat section operational in Haryana reducing the carbon emissions in the country significantly

2) Zero Emmissions : The train utilizing hydrogen power does so through advanced power cells integrated into the system with water vapor being the only other element released in the process. This makes it a completely zero-emission option which aids in the plan by Indian Railways to achieve net carbon zero emissions before the year 2030.

3) Rationale for the selection of the trial area: The Jind-Sonipat route is ideal for the trial because it has a reasonable volume of train traffic and a well-constructed rail system so that the train’s performance, safety, and operation will be assessed efficiently. If everything works out in trials in this area then that would facilitate applying the technology on additional non-electrified routes in the next periods.

4) Hydrogen trains are comparatively lower in sound levels: Together with environmental safety, hydrogen trains are also quieter and reduce the amount of un-useful energy than diesel trains which makes them much more desirable when it comes to transport.

5) Cost-effectiveness: It is anticipated that the larger the production of hydrogen fuel, the cheaper the operations of hydrogen trains will be over time. This affordability trend is expected to reduce the costs associated with the operation of the trains, enhancing the management of the railways and making transport cheaper and thus more accessible to the passengers.

6) No Need for Electrification: Hydrogen-powered trains are effective in non-electrified regions as they run on tracks that do not require electrification. As a result, expensive commitments to electrification infrastructure are not necessary. This aspect of operation draws parallels to the traditional diesel engines as a more inclusive permissive engine to use in territories that are not fully or partially electrified like backward regions where wiring for electrification is not viable.

7) Plans for Extension: Indian Railways will seek to deploy 35 hydrogen-based trains by 2025 on those routes which presently operate on diesel. With this expansion, rail transport development will be more environmentally friendly and will assist in the overall transition to cleaner forms of energy.

8) Funding: The cost of a hydrogen powered train is projected to be ₹80 crores, while it could cost an extra ₹ 70 crores to put up all the necessary facilities. Indian Railways is implementing a plan modernizing its services through the use of hydrogen by hydrogen production and storage development with both local and foreign manufacturers of the technologies.