New Delhi, India (Urban Tranport News): Indian Railways is aiming to commence trial test run of Country's first Hydrogen Fuel-powered Train by end of this year.
"The work is underway on the project to develop the country's first hydrogen train and efforts are being made to start its trial in the current financial year itself. Running trains on hydrogen would be a huge "technological breakthrough" in the country," said Railway Board Chairman & CEO Anil Kumar Lahoti on 3rd May 2023 in Indore.
"The Northern Railway has already awarded the contract to develop the hydrogen train and work is underway on it," he added.
Presently, Hyderabad-based firm Medha Servo Drives is undertaking the pilot project for the retro-fitment of hydrogen fuel cells on an existing Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) train. It will be the first prototype hydrogen train, which is likely to start operation on Jind—Sonipat route by next year.
Back in February this year, the union railway minister Ashwini Vaishanw had informed in the Rajya Sabha that each hydrogen train would cost around Rs 80 crore and the ground infrastructure would require an investment of nearly Rs 70 crore per route on various heritage and hill routes. The ground infrastructure includes the setting of capacity of hydrogen fuel system.
Initially, Indian Railways will run 35 Hydrogen Fueled-Trains in Hilly Areas under its Hydrogen for Heritage plan.