Modi to Flag Off India's First Hydrogen Train on 17 July

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to flag off India's first hydrogen train from Jind railway station in Haryana on 17 July, the prime minister's office has confirmed to senior railway officials. A senior railway official said the PMO had provided confirmation of the ceremonial launch, and the event will mark the first public deployment of a hydrogen-powered passenger service operated by Indian Railways. The move follows research into alternative fuels for rail. The train is configured with two driving power cars and eight passenger coaches and has completed extensive trials over two and a half months. Testing covered speeds ranging from 75 kmph to 120 kmph on the Sonipat-Jind-New Delhi route, during which technical performance and safety systems were evaluated. Railway engineers carried out endurance and compatibility checks on existing track and signalling infrastructure to ensure reliable commercial operation. Following the ceremonial flag-off, the service will enter commercial operations and is scheduled to run two round trips daily between Jind and Sonipat, covering 356 km in total each day. Each round trip is 89 km, and timetabling has been organised to accommodate morning and evening journeys that connect regional commuters and longer distance passengers. Operational crews have been trained to manage refuelling and onboard hydrogen systems. The configuration provides 682 seats and a total passenger capacity of around 2,600, reflecting designs intended to serve both peak and off-peak demand. Authorities view the project as a step towards decarbonising rail transport by demonstrating hydrogen technology in revenue service and gathering data on lifecycle operations. Further deployments will depend on performance metrics gathered during initial months of commercial running and infrastructure readiness across routes.