The Indian Railways has successfully tested the first hydrogen-powered coach or driving power car earlier this week in Chennai. The testing occurred at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) and marks a key milestone in its quest to build India’s first hydrogen-powered train, a feat achieved by only a few railways across the world.

Hydrogen is a clean fuel and will reduce the dependence of the transport sector on fossil fuels. Railways are one of the key players in India’s mission to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, especially in the transport sector.

According to officials, the project is in its final stage, and testing of various equipment is being conducted before the hydrogen-powered train enters commercial service.

The New Project

The newly launched project, undertaken by the Northern Railway zone, will increase the share of renewable energy in the energy mix used by Indian Railways. The project costs a total of around ₹136 crore and has two components:

1. The conversion of two conventional 1,600 HP diesel power cars into hydrogen fuel cell power traction systems, and

2. The setting up of a hydrogen storage and fueling facility at Jind in Haryana.
   This storage facility will have a capacity of 3,000 kg of clean fuel.

The primary design validation and testing of the hydrogen fuel train is being conducted by the Indian Railways’ Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), according to senior officials from the Railway Ministry. The hydrogen train project was conceptualised for the conversion of a 10-coach Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) into a hydrogen-powered multiple unit with two 1,600 HP power cars and a total train length of 10 coaches. This train can carry more than 2,600 passengers.

What is Hydrogen Fuel?

Hydrogen fuel technology is an emerging field in railways, with many challenges and safety concerns. Hydrogen is a light element and is highly inflammable, apart from being colourless and tasteless.

The new project involves the retrofitting of two diesel-powered cars into hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars. Each power car will carry two 20 kg cylinders of hydrogen stored in specially designated containers at 350 bar pressure. The mounting structure of the hydrogen cylinders and fuel cell is critical and is undergoing multiple rounds of testing. Officials say that to minimise risk, Indian Railways has conducted computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies for worst-case hydrogen leak scenarios and other failure modes.

The fuel and storage facility in Jind has a storage capacity divided into two separate zones: 2,320 kg at low pressure and 680 kg at high pressure.

This facility will be operated and maintained in accordance with the standards and specifications noted by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), the nodal agency under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).