Prime Minister Narendra Modi can flag off the country’s first hydrogen fuel cell train from Jind railway station in Haryana on July 17. For Indian Railways, this is not just the launch of a new train, but is being considered a big step towards clean and green transportation. This train has been tested in different conditions between Sonipat, Jind and New Delhi for the last two and a half months. This hydrogen-powered train is considered more environmentally friendly than traditional diesel engines because it does not emit carbon and emits only water vapor. According to the Railways, this train is based on hydrogen fuel cell technology, which provides energy to the motors by converting hydrogen into electricity. Let us understand about this train in detail.
The hydrogen train will initially be run between Jind and Sonipat in Haryana. It will complete two round trips daily and cover a distance of about 356 kilometers. The train has a total of 10 coaches, which include two driving power cars and eight passenger coaches. It has 682 seats, while the total capacity to travel is 2,600 passengers. For this, Railways has also prepared a hydrogen storage and refueling station in Jind, through which fuel can be provided to the train locally.
How is India’s first hydrogen train?
This train consists of two driving power cars and eight passenger coaches. Each driving power car is capable of generating 1,200 kilowatts of power, which is equivalent to approximately 1,600 horsepower. About 440 kg of compressed hydrogen can be stored in the train. The maximum design speed has been kept at 110 kilometers per hour, although on the Jind-Sonipat section it will run at a speed of 75 kilometers per hour. At maximum load it will consume about 300 kg of hydrogen daily. News agency PTI has quoted Railway sources as saying that in the initial phase it will operate only on fixed routes and for maintenance it will be taken to Shakurbasti Workshop in Delhi with the help of diesel engine.
How does hydrogen fuel cell technology work?
used in this train hydrogen Fuel cell technology generates electricity through the chemical process between hydrogen and oxygen. This electricity runs the train motors. In this process, no smoke or carbon dioxide is released, but only water vapor is produced. This is why it is considered a cleaner and more environmentally friendly technology than traditional diesel trains. Indian Railways has developed indigenous hydrogen storage and refueling facility in Jind for this project. All the manuals related to its operation and maintenance have been approved by Research Designs and Standards Organization (RDSO).
Why is this a big achievement for security and India?
Railways has given the biggest priority to the safety of this train. The design and safety of the train has been tested by international testing agency TUV SUD, so that it meets global safety standards. Hydrogen leak detectors, flame detectors and other safety sensors have been installed at the hydrogen storage station, which will be checked regularly. The refueling system will be monitored 24 hours and trained and certified personnel will take charge of the entire operation. Technical experts will also be present with the train in the initial days.
With this project, India has joined the list of select countries which are using hydrogen technology in rail transport. After countries like Germany, Japan, China and America, this step of India is considered important towards developing clean energy based rail network. Indian Railways believes that this initiative will play an important role in reducing carbon emissions in future and achieving net-zero target.
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