Overview
- The train was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and began commercial runs on July 17 on the 89–90 km Jind–Sonipat pilot corridor with two round trips daily following a public launch.
- Built by Indian Railways and ICF as a 10-coach set with two hydrogen driving power cars and eight trailers, the train carries up to about 2,600 passengers, runs at a controlled top speed of 75 km/h and has a design speed of 110 km/h.
- Indian Railways established an integrated hydrogen ecosystem at Jind — electrolysis production, compression, storage of nearly 3,000 kg and fast refuelling — which received a PESO licence and an independent safety assessment by TÜV SÜD.
- The propulsion uses onboard proton exchange membrane fuel cells that combine hydrogen and oxygen to make electricity, emitting only water vapour and heat, and operators say the train includes multi-layer safety systems such as leak, flame and heat detectors plus automatic shutoffs.
- Officials presented the launch as the start of a 'Hydrogen for Heritage' programme with plans to evaluate the pilot for a proposed fleet rollout, possible exports of the indigenous IP and estimated per‑train and infrastructure costs for scaling.