New Delhi, Sept 7:
Indian Railways is working to raise the operating speed of the country’s first hydrogen-powered train to 110 kmph after successfully completing trials at speeds of up to 120 kmph, Railway Board Chairman and CEO Satish Kumar said.
The train is currently approved for operations at a maximum speed of 75 kmph, but the Railways is now working towards increasing its operational speed to 110 kmph, Kumar told reporters in Indore on Sunday.
“Trials have been completed for a speed of 120 kmph,” he said, adding that consultations were underway with stakeholders to determine the railway sections where the hydrogen train could eventually be deployed.
Technical requirements and arrangements for the supply of hydrogen fuel are also being examined as part of the process.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off India’s first hydrogen-powered train on July 17. The train operates on the 89-km Jind-Sonipat route in Haryana.
Unlike conventional electric trains, which draw electricity from overhead lines, a hydrogen fuel-cell train generates electricity onboard through a chemical reaction involving hydrogen and oxygen. Water vapour and heat are the principal by-products, eliminating combustion, smoke and tailpipe carbon emissions.
The development forms part of Indian Railways’ efforts to explore cleaner propulsion technologies and reduce dependence on conventional fossil-fuel-based systems.
Kumar also said the country’s first Vande Bharat sleeper train was currently operating between Howrah and Kamakhya in Assam, while four more such trains had been completed and would be formally inaugurated soon.
The Railways is expected to receive another 11 Vande Bharat sleeper trains during the year. As many as 200 Vande Bharat sleeper trains are being manufactured under the public-private partnership model, with each train taking around one to one-and-a-half years to complete.
The Railway Board chief said the Railways was also preparing for the Simhastha festival in Ujjain in 2028 and planned to operate between 100 and 125 special trains for the event.
Meanwhile, artificial intelligence-based systems are being integrated with CCTV cameras at railway stations and onboard trains to strengthen security.
Kumar also reviewed several railway projects in and around Indore, including new rail lines, redevelopment of Indore railway station and other infrastructure works. The Rs 18,500-crore Indore-Manmad railway line is also progressing, with land acquisition moving ahead.