Jagran Correspondent, Chandigarh: Haryana is set to witness a major milestone in the history of Indian Railways on July 17, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the country's first hydrogen-powered train from Jind. PM Modi will also inaugurate the redeveloped Jind and Narwana railway stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
A Step Towards Green Transportation
The hydrogen train is not just a new railway service but also marks the beginning of Indian Railways' plan to reduce carbon emissions. The Centre has set a target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, and the hydrogen train project is an important step towards that goal. According to Jagran.com report, under the 'Hydrogen for Heritage' scheme, Indian Railways plans to introduce 35 hydrogen-powered trains on heritage and hill railway routes across the country. The Jind-Sonipat service will be the first train under this ambitious programme.
Hydrogen Trains Planned On More Heritage Routes
The Railway Ministry plans to operate hydrogen trains on several famous heritage routes in the coming years. These include the Kalka-Shimla Railway, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Kangra Valley Railway, and Matheran Hill Railway. Each hydrogen train is estimated to cost around Rs 80 crore, while an additional Rs 70 crore will be spent on setting up hydrogen production, storage and refuelling infrastructure for every route.
Features Of India's First Hydrogen Train
The train will run on the 89-km Jind-Sonipat route and consists of 10 coaches with a seating and carrying capacity of 2,638 passengers. It is equipped with a 1,200-kilowatt hydrogen fuel cell system and can run at speeds between 110 kmph and 140 kmph. Initially, the train will operate six days a week. Sundays will be reserved for maintenance. Railways plans to increase the service to two trips daily in the future.
Modern Facilities For Passengers
The train offers several modern passenger amenities, including comfortable seats, fans, mobile charging points and hand grips for standing passengers. It has been manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai. To ensure safe operations, six loco pilots, assistant loco pilots, and two guards have received specialised training in Chennai and Gujarat.
How Does A Hydrogen Train Work?
Unlike diesel trains, hydrogen trains generate electricity using hydrogen fuel cells. This process does not produce carbon dioxide. Instead, the only by-product is water vapour. This makes hydrogen trains one of the cleanest forms of rail transport. With the launch of this train, India will join a select group of countries, including Germany, France, Sweden and China, that operate hydrogen-powered trains.
What Is The 'Hydrogen for Heritage' Scheme?
The 'Hydrogen for Heritage' scheme is an Indian Railways initiative aimed at replacing diesel trains on heritage and rural railway routes with hydrogen-powered trains. The project supports India's goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.