India’s first hydrogen train to be on cultural heritage route

03/02/2023

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India’s first hydrogen train to be on cultural heritage route

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has declared that India will have its first hydrogen train ready by December 2023. This year’s budget for green growth has planned that the Indian Railway will contribute to this mission via the country’s first hydrogen train that will be designed and manufactured in India by December.

Route of India’s first hydrogen train:

As the hydrogen train will be ready it might be initially run on heritage circuits like Kalka to Shimla.
The motive behind the first hydrogen train on heritage route is to demonstrate India’s cultural heritage through trains.
It has also been informed that by adding new circuits like the Guru Kripa circuit to the list these heritage routes will completely go green.

India’s first hydrogen train:

Hydrogen trains run on hydrogen fuel cells and it is more environmentally friendly than traditional diesel engines.
Hydrogen fuel cells are converting hydrogen and oxygen to produce the electricity that is used to power the train’s motors.
Hydrogen train uses clean energy transition fuel which not emits any air pollutants.
Hydrogen is generated by expending renewable energy sources like wind, solar power, or hydropower.
These trains are going to be truly Indian Railways the face of Green India.

Challenges:

The main obstacle as of now in building multiple green hydrogen trains across the country that might be the massive cost that is required in its making and development.
According to the research and ratings agency ICRA, the cost of green hydrogen is measured around INR 492/kg in India.
The cost of operating a fuel cell-based hydrogen engine might be 27% higher than that of a diesel engine.
The Finance Minister has given an allocation of a budget of Rs 2.41 lakh crore for the Railways.
Around 1275 stations will be re-developed along with the up scaling of Vande Bharat production.