India Launches First Hydrogen-Powered Train

According to Lianhe Zaobao citing AFP, India has launched its first hydrogen-powered train as part of efforts to decarbonize rail transport and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over the launch ceremony on Friday, July 17, and said on social media that it was an important step for India toward self-reliance and sustainable development. The 10-car train will run between Jind and Sonipat in Haryana in northern India over an 89-kilometer route and is powered by a 1,200-kilowatt hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion system. India now joins a small group of countries testing the technology, and officials said the system is currently the most powerful train system in the world. The railway ministry said the train was “completely indigenously developed” in India, though senior officials told reporters that some key components, including the fuel cell, were imported.