Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, 18 July 2025, flagged off India's first hydrogen-powered train from Jind in Haryana, marking the country's entry into a select group of nations deploying hydrogen technology for cleaner rail transport. The train will operate on the Jind-Sonipat route, chosen as the pilot corridor for this milestone project under Indian Railways' clean energy drive.

A Historic First for Indian Railways

Jind witnessed a festive atmosphere ahead of the inauguration, with the hydrogen train decorated with flowers and balloons as residents gathered to mark what many described as a landmark moment. The launch places India alongside Germany, Japan, China, and the United States — a small group of nations currently developing or testing hydrogen-based rail systems.

An indigenous hydrogen storage and refuelling facility has been established at Jind specifically for the train set. The Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) has issued the requisite licence for storage and dispensing of compressed hydrogen gas at the facility — a critical regulatory clearance that enabled the launch.

What Locals Said

Residents of Jind expressed enthusiasm about the new service. 'We are extremely happy. A train service will now operate from our area, which will save time and reduce the difficulties faced by the public. The fare is also reasonable,' one local resident said. Another called it a moment for the history books: 'For the first time, a hydrogen train is running in our Jind. This will be written in history. There is a festive atmosphere here, and it is a matter of great happiness.'

A third resident, while welcoming the launch, flagged a practical concern — that the route should eventually be extended. 'This will benefit people greatly. It will play an important role in the progress of Jind. One thing is that this train should be extended from Jind to Panipat because there are not as many passengers on the Sonipat route,' the resident said.

Why the Jind-Sonipat Route Was Selected

The Jind-Sonipat section was identified as the pilot route for hydrogen-powered train operations due to its operational suitability for testing the new technology at scale. The infrastructure built at Jind — including the refuelling station — is designed to support the train set on this corridor as the technology is evaluated before any potential expansion.

Notably, hydrogen-powered rail remains at an early stage globally, with only a handful of countries operating or trialling such systems. India's entry into this space signals an acceleration of its clean energy ambitions in the transport sector.

Alignment with India's Net-Zero Goals

The hydrogen train project aligns directly with India's stated objective of achieving net-zero carbon emissions and its broader push toward energy-efficient, environmentally sustainable transport. Indian Railways, one of the world's largest rail networks, has set an ambitious target of becoming net-zero by 2030, and hydrogen traction is seen as a key lever alongside electrification.

This comes amid growing global momentum around green hydrogen as a fuel source for heavy transport — a segment where battery-electric solutions face range and weight limitations. The Jind launch is, in that sense, both a domestic milestone and a signal of India's intent to compete in the next generation of clean mobility technology.

How quickly the technology scales beyond the pilot route will be the defining question in the months ahead.