Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 17, 2026 flagged off India's first hydrogen fuel cell-powered passenger train from Jind Junction in Haryana, marking one of the world's largest hydrogen rail deployments to date and putting India alongside Germany, France, China and Japan on the global hydrogen-rail map. The train, integrated in India using Canadian Ballard Power Systems fuel cell stacks, will initially serve the 89-kilometre Jind–Sonipat route via Gohana Junction with capacity for approximately 2,600 passengers.
Two Power Cars, 2.4 MW Of Zero-Emission Traction
Built at Indian Railways' Integral Coach Factory in Chennai and systems-integrated by Hyderabad's Medha Servo Drives, the trainset consists of two hydrogen driving power cars and eight trailer coaches. Each driving power car houses fuel cells, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries and hydrogen storage cylinders. Combined, the two power cars deliver 2.4 MW of traction — enough for a 110 km/h top speed, though the train will initially run at 75 km/h on the Jind–Sonipat section. In its first five days of commercial operation it clocked roughly 900 kilometres, according to Indian Railways.
Green Hydrogen Ecosystem At Jind
Indian Railways has built a complete hydrogen ecosystem at Jind, including an on-site green hydrogen electrolyser producing 420–430 kg of hydrogen per day, compression to 500 bar, storage of up to 3,000 kg and two dispensers that fill both power cars simultaneously at 350 bar. The full storage and supply system has been approved by India's Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), and the trainset carries multi-layer safety systems to detect hydrogen leaks, heat, flames and smoke.
India Joins A Small Global Club
Hydrogen-powered trains remain rare worldwide. Germany was first to commercialize hydrogen passenger service in 2022, with France, Italy, China and Japan running pilots or limited deployments — but these are almost always two- to four-coach regional units. India's 10-car, 2,600-passenger consist is now among the largest, and Indian Railways has already flagged plans to extend hydrogen operations to the Kalka–Shimla heritage route. The launch complements broader momentum in the global green-hydrogen build-out, including China's hydrogen and solid-state battery standards, electrolyzer sector expansion, and Ballard's growing FCmove customer base.
Reporting based on coverage from pv magazine, Fuel Cells Works, Deccan Herald and Indian Railways.