Indian Railways has achieved a major green milestone by successfully testing the country’s first hydrogen-powered train coach at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai.

The coach, equipped with a powerful 1,200 HP hydrogen fuel cell engine, is part of the government’s “Hydrogen for Heritage” initiative aimed at decarbonizing rail transport and promoting sustainable mobility.

Key Points:

• The hydrogen-powered Driving Power Car was successfully tested at ICF Chennai on July 25, 2025, marking India's entry into the elite group of nations using hydrogen fuel in rail transport.
• The coach runs on a 1,200 HP hydrogen fuel cell engine—significantly more powerful than hydrogen trains in Europe and China, which typically use 500–600 HP engines.
• It is part of the Rs.2,800 crore “Hydrogen for Heritage” initiative to operate 35 hydrogen-powered trains on heritage and hilly routes across India.
• Hydrogen trains emit only water vapor, reduce noise by 60%, and offer a cleaner and quieter alternative to diesel-powered trains.
• Trial runs for the full hydrogen train set are expected to begin soon on the Jind–Sonipat route in Haryana, with possible future operations on the Kalka–Shimla route.