Railways is planning to introduce a groundbreaking train that requires neither diesel nor electricity. This “water-powered” train is all set to run on tracks soon.
The train will run on water for the first time in the country. This will be achieved through advanced hydrogen fuel technology. The pilot project of the hydrogen train will be launch soon. This train will require about 40,000 liters of water per hour, and special water storage facilities will be built to support this operation.
Indian Railways plans to deploy as many as 35 hydrogen-powered trains across the country. The organization is already in the process of installing Hydrogen fuel cells and supporting infrastructure. Designs for the hydrogen plants are also approved. According to railway sources, the cost for a single hydrogen train is approximately Rs 80 crore.
The hydrogen train generates electricity by converting hydrogen and oxygen through fuel cells, emitting only steam and water as byproducts, unlike diesel engines. Not only that the high-tech train will be 60 percent quieter than diesel trains, offering the same speed and passenger capacity.
The first hydrogen-powered train is likely to run on the 90-kilometer Jind-Sonipat route in Haryana. Other routes in consideration are – Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Kalka-Shimla Railway, Matheran Railway, Kangra Valley, Bilimora Waghai, and Marwar-Deogarh Madariya routes.
The train is anticipated to reach speeds of 140 km/h and cover up to 1,000 kilometers on a single run.
