Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently announced in the Lok Sabha that the Indian Railways has made significant strides in developing a train powered by Hydrogen Fuel Cell technology.
This innovative project, designed to showcase the utiliSation of Hydrogen Technology in rail transportation, is being undertaken as a pilot initiative.
The production of this groundbreaking train is slated to be carried out by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, as confirmed by Minister Vaishnaw during his response to inquiries from BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar.
Indian Railways move towards sustainable future
Minister Vaishnaw emphasised that the Hydrogen-powered train project signifies a notable advancement in the realm of sustainable transportation solutions and underscores the Indian Railways’ commitment to embracing cutting-edge technology for a greener future.
“A project for development of Hydrogen power train using Hydrogen Fuel Cell has been taken up as a pilot project. The power train of this project has been designed,” the Railway Minister said.
“The production planned to be done in ICF, Chennai Production Unit. This train will demonstrate the use of Hydrogen Technology in Railways,” he added.
Indian Railways’ green revolution
The Indian Railways has committed to achieving Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2030 and has implemented a series of initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint. Among these efforts, the Railways is embracing energy-efficient technologies, such as transitioning to three-phase electric locomotives with regenerative capabilities and adopting Head-On Generation (HOG) technology.
Additionally, LED lighting is being installed in railway buildings and coaches, and star-rated appliances are being utilized to enhance energy efficiency. Furthermore, the Railways is implementing water conservation and management practices and actively participating in afforestation initiatives to mitigate its environmental impact.