India joins select group of nations operating hydrogen-powered trains
- They produce only heat and water vapour as by-products, a cleaner alternative to traditional diesel locomotives
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the country’s first hydrogen-powered train on Friday, making it one of a handful of nations to use the zero-emission, clean fuel technology.
India joins a select group of countries, including Germany, Japan, China and the United States, with such trains. They produce only heat and water vapour as by-products, a cleaner alternative to traditional diesel locomotives.
The 10-coach train set, which has a capacity of 2,600 passengers, will run twice a day between the cities of Jind and Sonipat in the northern state of Haryana, bordering the national capital of Delhi.
After flagging the hydrogen train on its 90-km (55-mile) route, Modi said India would continue to find ways to improve efficiency, reduce costs and expand the network.
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“The project combines advanced propulsion technology with dedicated hydrogen storage, refuelling and operational infrastructure,” a government statement said on Thursday.
The train set, designed, engineered and built in India, is expected to operate at a maximum speed of 75 km (47 miles) per hour, powered by a 1,200-kilowatt hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system.
India has electrified nearly all of its 70,000-km (43,500-mile) broad-gauge network, one of the world’s largest, in an effort to achieve net zero carbon emissions in its railways by 2030.
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