{"id":79500,"date":"2026-07-17T18:08:48","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T12:38:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=79500"},"modified":"2026-07-17T18:11:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T12:41:15","slug":"india-first-hydrogen-powered-train","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/17-07-2026\/india-first-hydrogen-powered-train","title":{"rendered":"India&#8217;s First Hydrogen-Powered Train"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Science &amp; Technology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>PM Modi flagged off India\u2019s first Hydrogen powered train running between an 89-km stretch of Jind and Sonipat in Haryana, under the jurisdiction of Northern Railway\u2019s Delhi Division.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>India&#8217;s First Hydrogen-Powered Train<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Key Features of the train:\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The train was developed by <strong>Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory (ICF).<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is a<strong> 10-car hydrogen <\/strong>fuel cell-based train set, powered by a<strong> 1200 kW hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The train consists of<strong> two Hydrogen Driving Power Cars (DPCs) <\/strong>and <strong>eight Trailer Coaches (TCs).<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Approved to operate at a maximum speed of <strong>75 kmph <\/strong>with a<strong> design speed of 110 kmph.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Major Components of the Train<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells<\/strong> that generate electricity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries<\/strong> that store surplus electricity and provide additional power during acceleration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>High-pressure hydrogen storage cylinders<\/strong> for storing compressed hydrogen gas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Electric traction motors <\/strong>that convert electrical energy into mechanical motion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Safety Measures:\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Hydrogen leak detectors<\/strong> have been installed at the production, storage and dispensing facilities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Flame detectors<\/strong> have also been installed for continuous monitoring.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How Does the Hydrogen Train Work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A hydrogen-powered train is a <strong>fuel-cell electric train<\/strong> that generates electricity onboard using <strong>hydrogen gas instead of diesel fuel or electricity <\/strong>supplied through overhead transmission lines.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hydrogen fuel cell technology<\/strong> produces electricity through a chemical reaction using hydrogen.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The primary energy source is a <strong>Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC).\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The fuel cell generates electricity by <strong>reacting hydrogen and oxygen across a proton-conducting Perfluorosulfonic Acid (PFSA) polymer membrane.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The process produces only <strong>water vapour and heat<\/strong> as byproducts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Electricity powers the traction motors that drive the train.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e6eef4\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"552\" height=\"499\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-173.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-79501\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e6eef4; width:309px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-173.png 552w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-173-300x271.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 552px) 100vw, 552px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Significance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Sustainable mobility: <\/strong>The project is a <strong>big step towards decarbonising<\/strong> the transport sector of India through the replacement of diesel traction with a technology with zero tailpipe emission.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It provides a <strong>clean alternative<\/strong> for non-electrified routes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>India\u2019s climate commitments:<\/strong> It contributes to India\u2019s promise of reaching Net Zero emissions by 2070.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>India&#8217;s technological leadership:<\/strong> India is now among the front-runners in the development of hydrogen-based railway transportation with the successful commissioning of one of the world&#8217;s most powerful hydrogen trainsets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What are the Challenges?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Hydrogen infrastructure:<\/strong> India has insufficient facilities for hydrogen generation, storage, transportation and refuelling, which restricts large scale adoption.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>High capital investment:<\/strong> Large capital outlay is required to set up hydrogen production plants, refuelling stations, fuel-cell systems and unique rolling stock.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Safety concerns: <\/strong>Hydrogen is very flammable, requiring special storage facilities and strict operational safety procedures.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>What is hydrogen?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Hydrogen is a <\/strong>chemical element with<strong> chemical symbol H and atomic number 1.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hydrogen is the lightest of all elements and the most common chemical material in the universe, accounting for around <strong>75%<\/strong> of all normal matter.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is a <strong>non-toxic, colourless, odourless, tasteless<\/strong> and extremely inflammable gas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"d0c7c0\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"532\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-174.png\" alt=\"hydrogen\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-79505\" style=\"--dominant-color: #d0c7c0; width:444px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-174.png 1024w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-174-300x156.png 300w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-174-768x399.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/explained-how-indias-first-hydrogen-powered-train-works\/article71232664.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><strong>, <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/FactsheetDetails.aspx?Id=150774&amp;reg=3&amp;lang=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>PIB<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> Context <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> PM Modi flagged off India\u2019s first Hydrogen powered train running between an 89-km stretch of Jind and Sonipat in Haryana, under the jurisdiction of Northern Railway\u2019s Delhi Division. <\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> India&#8217;s First Hydrogen-Powered Train <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Key Features of the train:\u00a0 <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> The train was developed by Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory (ICF). <\/li>\n<p><a href=\" https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/17-07-2026\/india-first-hydrogen-powered-train \" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-79500","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79500","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=79500"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79500\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":79506,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79500\/revisions\/79506"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=79500"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=79500"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=79500"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}