India’s First Hydrogen Train: A quiet revolution rolls out of Chennai

Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh

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Chennai Milestone

At ICF Chennai, India quietly made rail history—testing a hydrogen-powered coach that could soon redefine how 2,600 passengers ride across the country without fossil fumes.

Hydrogen Hustle

What began in 2020 is now in final tests: India’s boldest bet yet on green rail, converting old diesel beasts into whisper-quiet, zero-emission machines.

Silent Power

Each retrofitted coach carries 220 kg of hydrogen, pressurized to 350 bars—fueling motion not with smoke and noise, but with invisible force and scientific precision.

Jind Lifeline

Haryana’s Jind is more than a station now—it’s becoming India’s first hydrogen rail hub, storing 3,000 kg of fuel to power daily 356-km journeys between Jind and Sonepat.

Fuel of Fire

Hydrogen is flammable, invisible, and volatile. That’s why German safety watchdog TUV-SUD is auditing every cylinder, valve, and vent before passengers ever board.

Made in India

Hyderabad’s Medha Servo Drives is leading the tech transformation, proving that world-class hydrogen engineering doesn’t just come from Germany or Japan—it runs on Indian grit.

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Smart Safety

With flame sensors, leak detectors, pressure valves, and CFD simulations of worst-case leaks, these trains are designed like flying labs on rails—safe, sleek, and cutting-edge.

Green Shift

This isn’t just a tech demo—it’s part of India’s national push to slash emissions, cut diesel reliance, and make rail the spearhead of its renewable energy transition.

Global Signal

Only a handful of countries have even tested hydrogen trains. India’s move signals to the world: the age of clean locomotion isn’t near—it’s already steaming ahead.