Hydrogen-fueled train prototype successfully trialed at Indian Railway's manufacturing center
India is on the brink of a significant milestone in its clean mobility efforts, as the country's first hydrogen-powered train with 1,200 HP is expected to become operational on the Northern Railway by the end of 2025.
The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai successfully tested the country's first hydrogen-powered Driving Power Car in July 2025. The complete train rake, consisting of 10 coaches including two hydrogen-powered cars, will be sent to Northern Railway by the last week of August 2025 for further trials and deployment.
The train consists of two converted 1600 HP diesel power cars retrofitted into hydrogen fuel cell units, forming a 10-coach Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) set. The train will operate on the Jind–Sonipat section under a ₹136 crore pilot project initiated by Northern Railway in 2020-21.
The Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) is leading design, validation, and safety testing, including detailed simulations to ensure operational safety. After completing all tests and validation, Indian Railways plans to run 35 hydrogen trains under the “Hydrogen for Heritage” initiative on heritage and hill routes across India. This broader deployment is planned after successful trials, with cost estimates of around ₹80 crore per train and ₹70 crore per route infrastructure.
The General Manager of Northern Railway (NR), Ashok Kumar Verma, recently visited ICF and inspected the hydrogen train. He expressed his excitement about the potential of this technology to reduce carbon emissions in rail transport while advancing indigenous hydrogen technology.
The development of these hydrogen trains was announced by the Railway Minister in a social media message in an unspecified year. Once fully tested, the hydrogen train will be run on the Northern Railway, marking a significant step forward in India's clean mobility efforts.
For more information, please refer to this link for a picture of the hydrogen train: pic.twitter.com/2tDClkGBx0
This development positions India among the leaders in hydrogen-powered train technology and is a testament to the country's commitment to sustainable and innovative transportation solutions.
[1] India's first hydrogen-powered train to run on Northern Railway soon, The Hindu BusinessLine, 2025 [2] India's first hydrogen-powered train: All you need to know, India Today, 2025 [3] India's first hydrogen-powered train to be operational by late 2025, The Economic Times, 2025 [4] India's first hydrogen-powered train: A step towards sustainable rail transport, Financial Express, 2025
- The technology sector in India is set for a potential breakthrough with the imminent operation of the country's first hydrogen-powered train on the Northern Railway, marking a significant stride in the business of sustainable transportation.
- The emergence of hydrogen-powered train technology in India is a prime example of the country's chances to lead in the global race for clean mobility solutions and advance its infrastructure in the transportation industry.
- The success of the hydrogen train project has sparked interest in the financial community, with several analysts predicting further investments in clean-energy technology businesses within the country's economy.
- To ensure the success of this pioneering project, the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) has spearheaded design, validation, and safety testing, further emphasizing India's focus on technology and finance in the infrastructure sector.
- With the upcoming trials and successful deployment of the hydrogen train, other industries such as transportation are likely to follow suit, catalyzing the growth of the clean energy subscription market in India.