Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday, 17 July confirmed that India holds complete intellectual property (IP) rights over its indigenously developed hydrogen train technology, positioning the country to export the system to global markets. The announcement came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off India's first hydrogen fuel cell-powered train at Jind, Haryana, marking a landmark moment in the country's green mobility push.

What the Technology Delivers

The 10-coach hydrogen fuel cell-powered train is fitted with a 2,400 kW hydrogen propulsion system — entirely developed using indigenous technology — and runs on a 3,200 HP powertrain. The train operates between Jind and Sonipat in Haryana, covering the approximately 90-km route in around two hours. Crucially, it generates electricity onboard through hydrogen combustion and emits only water vapour, making it among the cleanest rail transport options currently in operation anywhere in the world.

India's IP Ownership and Export Potential

'Railways has developed a complete 2,400 kW hydrogen propulsion system for the transportation sector, which has been fitted in this train. This technology is completely indigenous and reflects the vision of an 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat',' Vaishnaw said. He added that India's ownership of the full IP stack for this propulsion system creates a concrete pathway for technology exports, a dimension rarely associated with Indian Railways projects. Hydrogen, the minister noted, is an emerging fuel not only domestically but across global transport networks.

Where India Stands Globally

With this launch, India joins a select group of countries — including Germany, the United Kingdom, and China — that have operationalised hydrogen-powered passenger rail. Notably, this is India's first such deployment on the broad gauge network, which already exceeds 99 per cent electrification. The hydrogen train adds a zero-emission layer to a network that has sharply reduced diesel dependence over the past decade.

Part of a Broader Rail Modernisation Drive

Vaishnaw described the project as integral to a railway modernisation programme spanning the past 12 years under Prime Minister Modi's leadership. The launch signals Indian Railways' ambition to move beyond electrification toward next-generation clean propulsion — and, for the first time, to position itself as a technology exporter rather than solely a technology importer. Industry observers note that if the Jind–Sonipat corridor demonstrates operational reliability, it could accelerate interest from countries seeking affordable hydrogen rail solutions.