Indian Railways seeks cheaper green hydrogen to roll out 35 new trains
After debuting its first hydrogen-fuelled train, Indian Railways is hunting lower-cost green hydrogen to expand a fleet of 35 units on non-electrified routes.
Indian Railways, which operates the world’s most powerful hydrogen train, recorded over 2,500 km of commercial runs by early August after the service began in mid-July. The agency now plans to introduce 35 hydrogen-fuelled trains on scenic, hilly routes that lack electric infrastructure. To make the expansion viable, a senior official said the sector is evaluating ways to cut green-hydrogen procurement costs, including offering manufacturers assured purchase agreements.
The government already provides incentives for electrolyser manufacturing and green-hydrogen production under a dedicated scheme, and the National Green Hydrogen Mission is funded with Rs 17,490 crore up to the 2029-30 fiscal year. Recent tender results in Assam showed a record low price of Rs 279 per kg for 10,000 tonnes a year, a milestone highlighted by former Niti Aayog chief Amitabh Kant. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier inaugurated the first train, which uses fuel-cell technology to generate electricity without combustion, emitting only water vapour.
Why it matters
Cheaper green hydrogen could accelerate clean-energy transport across India’s difficult terrain.
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