Indian Railways is now going to step into a new era. For many decades, diesel engines connected remote areas of the country, then electrification changed the picture of railways. Now it is the turn of hydrogen technology, which the world is seeing as the clean transport of the future. If everything goes as per plan, India’s first indigenous hydrogen train will soon run carrying passengers on the Jind-Sonipat rail route in Haryana. With this, India will join those select countries which have adopted hydrogen fuel cell technology in railway operations. Let us understand through this news which one is better among diesel, electric and hydrogen trains. Which technology has the heaviest advantage in terms of expense, maintenance and pollution?
India’s first first hydrogen train Let’s talk about. According to news agency PTI, PM Modi can flag off the first hydrogen train on July 17, 2026. According to Indian Railways, this 10-coach train will be equipped with 1200 kilowatt hydrogen fuel cell system. Its maximum operating speed has been fixed at 75 km per hour and it will currently run on the Jind-Sonipat section. Before this, the train has successfully completed its trials. However, even today the biggest strength of Indian Railways is electric trains, while diesel engines are now in limited use. In such a situation, the biggest question is who is ahead among the three technologies in terms of cost, maintenance, speed and environment.
1. expense
Among the three technologies, electric trains have the lowest daily running costs. After the large-scale electrification of railway lines in India, most of the diesel trains are being replaced by electric trains and about 95 percent of the trains are now electric. Where power lines have not yet reached or some heavy goods trains run, diesel engines are used. According to a March 2025 report by India Today, an electric train in Ajmer Railway Division consumes about 20 units of electricity per kilometer. At Rs 6.50 per unit, its electricity cost comes to around Rs 130 per kilometer. Whereas the diesel engine consumes about 3.5 to 4 liters of diesel per kilometer, which costs about Rs 350 to 400 per kilometer. That is, if we only talk about the cost of fuel, a diesel train is about 2.5 to 3 times more expensive than an electric train.
However, the biggest expense in electric trains occurs in the beginning. Construction of overhead electrification (OHE), sub-station and power system on the railway line can cost around Rs 1.5 to 2.5 crore per kilometre. But once this infrastructure is ready, its operation remains much cheaper than diesel for the next 30-35 years. At the same time, hydrogen train is the most expensive option at present. According to initial estimates of Indian Railways, a hydrogen train can cost around Rs 80 crore and the infrastructure for making and filling hydrogen can cost around Rs 70 crore. Apart from this, preparing green hydrogen is also expensive. Therefore, at present this technology is considered more suitable for specific routes rather than every route.
2. Maintenance
Electric trains are considered to be at the forefront in terms of maintenance. There are less mechanical moving parts in them, hence overhauling of the engine also has to be reduced. Also, due to technology like regenerative braking, brakes and other parts also wear less. On the other hand, diesel engine has thousands of mechanical parts. Engine oil, filter, fuel injection system and transmission require regular servicing. Therefore, the maintenance cost of diesel engine is higher than that of electric engine. Hydrogen train is the most advanced in terms of technology, but it requires constant monitoring of the fuel cell stack, battery and hydrogen storage system. The fuel cell stack has a fixed life, after which it has to be replaced.
3. Speed and Operation
In the matter of speed, not only technology but also the capacity of the track is very important. Still, the difference between the three systems is clearly visible. Diesel trains usually run at a maximum speed of 110 to 120 km per hour and due to heavy engines, their ability to accelerate is a little slow. Electric trains gain speed very fast. This is the reason why modern trains like Vande Bharat are based on electric technology. The ability to achieve higher speeds in a shorter period of time makes them ideal for busy rail routes. The fixed operating speed of India’s first hydrogen train will currently be 75 km per hour. Although higher speeds were recorded during the trials, regular operation will be as per safety standards. The hydrogen fuel cell delivers consistent torque, resulting in better performance even on climbs and tough routes.
4. Pollution and environment
From the environmental point of view, diesel trains cause the most pollution because they burn fossil fuels directly. This releases carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and fine pollutant particles. Electric trains themselves do not emit smoke, but their actual carbon footprint depends on the source from which the electricity is generated. If the electricity is generated from coal, there will be indirect pollution, whereas with electricity generated from solar or wind energy, it can become almost zero-emission transport. The biggest feature of the hydrogen train is that only water vapor comes out from its fuel cell. If the hydrogen used in it is also green hydrogen, then it can become almost zero-carbon rail transport. That means, in case of less pollution, hydrogen train can be considered the best option.
5. Facilities for passengers
Diesel engines have more noise and vibration, which can affect the comfort of passengers during long journeys. Electric trains are quieter and smoother. In these, electricity is continuously available for AC, lighting and other onboard facilities. The experience of traveling in a hydrogen train is almost the same as in an electric train. Due to fuel cell and battery based system, noise is less and the journey becomes more comfortable. If we talk about tickets, Railways does not decide the fare on the basis of which fuel the train is running on. Train fare is always decided on the basis of distance, class and facilities available.
In a large rail network like India, electric trains will remain the backbone of the railways for many years to come because their operation is the cheapest and most practical on a large scale. The use of diesel engines will gradually reduce further. At the same time, hydrogen trains can become a better option in those areas where electrification is difficult, expensive or environmentally challenging. This means that hydrogen technology can emerge not to replace electric trains, but to support them. If green hydrogen becomes cheaper in the coming time, then the role of hydrogen trains in railways may increase further.
Leave a Reply