NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the country’s first hydrogen-powered train on Friday, making the country one of just a handful which have adopted the zero-emissions, clean fuel technology.
Developed by state-owned Indian Railways, the blue trainset uses hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity onboard by combining hydrogen with oxygen. Instead of exhaust fumes, the vehicle emits only water and steam, making it a cleaner alternative to conventional diesel locomotives.
Modi flagged the hydrogen train, called the Namo Green Rail, on its 89-km route from the city of Jind to Sonipat in the northern state of Haryana, which borders the national capital of New Delhi.
“This is a major achievement in the direction of building a clean, green, and self-reliant India. This train, built with cutting-edge technology, is not only a symbol of India's technical capability but also an example for the entire world,” Modi wrote on X after the flag-off event.
The Namo Green Rail, powered by a 1,200-kilowatt hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system, places India alongside a select group of countries, including Germany, Japan, China and the US, which have deployed the zero-emissions technology in their rail networks.
