Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Government after the Ministry of Railways approved the country’s first hydrogen powered DEMU train project for the state.
The Railway Board has granted approval for the operation of a 10 coach Hydrogen Fuel Cell based DPRS 1200 KW DEMU train between Jind and Sonipat on the Northern Railway section at a maximum speed of 75 kmph.
Thanking the Prime Minister and the Centre, Saini said Haryana would write a new chapter in development and railway infrastructure under the leadership of Narendra Modi. He said the hydrogen DEMU train would emerge as a milestone project keeping future transport requirements in view and would strengthen the state’s role in green and sustainable transportation.
According to the Railway Board communication issued to the General Manager of Northern Railway and the Director General of Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), the sanction was granted following recommendations from the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety and after RDSO’s final speed certification.
The official document stated that the hydrogen powered train will initially run on the dedicated Jind Sonipat section of Northern Railway. The project includes a hydrogen storage and refuelling facility at Jind in Haryana, for which necessary permissions have already been granted.
The Railway Board has laid down several safety and operational conditions before commencement of services. These include 24×7 monitoring of the hydrogen refuelling cycle, availability of trained technical staff, emergency systems, maintenance support and regular safety audits.
The document further noted that initially the hydrogen trainset would be accompanied by trained technical personnel for three months to handle any technical issues during operations. The Railways will also explore alternative sources of green hydrogen fuel for the project.
Saini said the project reflects the Centre’s commitment towards modern rail infrastructure and environmentally sustainable development, adding that Haryana is set to become a key hub for future ready transport initiatives.