India’s Hydrogen Train: NaMo Green Rail and the Beginning of a New Era in Green Rail Mobility
Indian Railways has taken a major step towards introducing alternative-energy propulsion with the launch of NaMo Green Rail, India’s first hydrogen-powered train. The train was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Jind in Haryana on July 17, 2026, and has begun passenger operations on the Jind–Sonipat route. The project is being presented as a significant milestone in the development of indigenous hydrogen-powered railway technology and the country’s broader shift towards cleaner transportation.The launch is significant not only because India now has a hydrogen-powered passenger train in operation, but also because the project covers the wider ecosystem required to run such a train. Along with the train itself, Indian Railways has developed hydrogen storage and refuelling infrastructure at Jind, allowing the technology to be tested under actual operating conditions.The NaMo Green Rail is designed to demonstrate how hydrogen fuel-cell technology can be used as an alternative to conventional diesel propulsion, particularly on railway routes where electrification may not always be the most practical option.What Is NaMo Green Rail?NaMo Green Rail is the official name of India’s first hydrogen-powered train. It has been designed and developed in India as part of Indian Railways’ efforts to explore next-generation fuel technologies.Unlike a conventional diesel train, which burns diesel in an internal-combustion engine to generate mechanical power, a hydrogen fuel-cell train uses an electrochemical process to generate electricity.Hydrogen stored onboard the train is supplied to fuel cells, where it reacts with oxygen from the air. This produces electricity, which is then used to power the train’s traction system. At the point of operation, the principal by-product of the process is water vapour rather than the carbon dioxide and particulate emissions associated with diesel combustion.The environmental benefit, however, depends on how the hydrogen is produced. Hydrogen produced using renewable electricity can have a substantially lower carbon footprint than hydrogen produced using fossil fuels.The Jind–Sonipat RouteNaMo Green Rail is being operated on the Jind–Sonipat section of Northern Railway in Haryana.The route provides Indian Railways with an opportunity to assess hydrogen propulsion in actual railway conditions rather than limiting the technology to laboratory or controlled trials.The passenger service began after the train was flagged off on July 17. The route covers approximately 89 kilometres, connecting Jind with Sonipat in Haryana. The deployment is particularly important because it allows Indian Railways to collect operational data on hydrogen consumption, fuel-cell performance, reliability, maintenance, safety and refuelling requirements.The experience gained from this route could help determine where hydrogen-powered trains can be practically deployed in the future.A 10-Coach Hydrogen TrainThe NaMo Green Rail trainset consists of 10 coaches, including two driving power cars and eight passenger coaches.Each driving power car has a power output of 1,200 kW, giving the trainset a combined installed power of 2,400 kW. Indian Railways has described it as the world’s longest and most powerful hydrogen trainset on a broad-gauge platform.The train has been designed to operate at speeds of up to 75 kmph in regular service.Its passenger capacity is approximately 2,600 people, according to officials. The combination of hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion and battery-based energy management allows the train to generate and use electricity without relying on a conventional diesel engine.How Does a Hydrogen Train Work?The basic principle behind a hydrogen fuel-cell train is different from both diesel and conventional electric trains.A conventional electric train receives electricity through an external system, generally an overhead catenary or third rail. A diesel locomotive carries its fuel onboard and uses combustion to produce power.A hydrogen train carries its own energy source in the form of hydrogen.Inside the fuel-cell system, hydrogen is combined with oxygen through an electrochemical reaction. The process generates electricity, which powers the train’s electric traction motors.The direct by-product is water vapour.This means that the train does not produce carbon dioxide from hydrogen fuel-cell operation at the point of use. Indian Railways has therefore positioned NaMo Green Rail as a cleaner alternative for routes where diesel trains are still required. Why Is Hydrogen Being Considered for Railways?India has made substantial progress in railway electrification, and electric traction remains the primary direction for the majority of the network.Hydrogen is therefore not intended to replace electric trains across the country.Its potential lies in specific applications, particularly on routes that are difficult or expensive to electrify.Installing overhead electrical infrastructure requires significant investment in catenary systems, substations and other supporting infrastructure. On some low-density, heritage or difficult-to-electrify routes, a hydrogen train could provide an alternative without requiring the entire route to be equipped with overhead electrical systems.Hydrogen trains can also operate independently of an overhead power supply because their electricity is generated onboard.The Role of Green HydrogenThe environmental case for hydrogen trains depends heavily on the source of the hydrogen.Hydrogen itself is not automatically a zero-carbon fuel.If hydrogen is produced using renewable electricity, the resulting fuel can have a much lower lifecycle carbon footprint. This is generally referred to as green hydrogen.Green hydrogen is produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis, using electricity. When renewable sources such as solar or wind power provide that electricity, the production process can be significantly cleaner than conventional fossil-fuel-based hydrogen production.This makes hydrogen relevant to India’s broader clean-energy strategy and its efforts to build a domestic green hydrogen economy.Indigenous Technology and Atmanirbhar BharatOne of the most important aspects of NaMo Green Rail is its indigenous development.Indian Railways says the project involved designing the train from the initial stages, prototype manufacturing and the development of hydrogen traction technology specifically for Indian Railways. The project is being presented as an example of Atmanirbhar Bharat, or self-reliance in technology and manufacturing. Developing hydrogen railway technology domestically has strategic significance.Hydrogen propulsion requires expertise in fuel cells, power electronics, energy storage, hydrogen handling, control systems and safety technologies. Building these capabilities within India can help create a domestic industrial ecosystem around hydrogen-powered transportation.It also gives Indian engineers and manufacturers experience with a technology that is still developing globally.Hydrogen Refuelling Infrastructure at JindA hydrogen train requires infrastructure that is fundamentally different from conventional railway fuelling systems.To support NaMo Green Rail, Indian