In a major push for sustainability, Indian Railways will unveil its first indigenous hydrogen-powered train on Friday, which will run on the 89-km Jind-Sonipat section of the Northern Railway.
The train, to be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will connect Jind Junction, Gohana Junction and Sonipat with proposed halts at Jind City, Pandu Pindara Junction, Lalit Khera Halt, Bhambhewa, Isapur Kheri Halt, Butane Halt, Khandrai Halt, Rabrah Halt, Lath Halt, Mohana, Barwasni Halt and Sonipat New.
Tech behind the train
With a capacity for 2,600 passengers, the train is a 10-car hydrogen fuel cell-based set. It is powered by 1200 kW hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system and can run at a maximum speed of 75 kmph with a design speed of 110 kmph.
The train consists of two Hydrogen Driving Power Cars (DPCs) and eight Trailer Coaches (TCs). Each DPC houses fuel cells, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries and hydrogen storage cylinders.
The trains run on hydrogen fuel cell technology, which means electricity is generated through a chemical reaction using hydrogen. The primary energy source is a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC), which can generate electricity by reacting hydrogen and oxygen across a proton-conducting Perfluorosulfonic Acid (PFSA) polymer membrane.
The byproducts will only be water vapour and heat, which makes it one of the cleanest technology available. Also, Hydrogen is a high-energy fuel, 120 MJ/Kg (megajoules per kilogram) in comparison to diesel, which is just 43 MJ/Kg. It is also low-maintenance with a manageable carbon footprint.
The trainset also possesses state-of-the-art safety features, including hydrogen leak and flame detectors. It also has a system that can automatically cut off the hydrogen supply on its own if anything unusual like heat, flame or smoke is detected. The Loco Pilot’s cabin has been designed with a special mode that allows the train to be moved to safety in an emergency. A screen shows the real health of the whole system to the Loco Pilot at all times.
With this technology, India will join a select group of countries, including Germany, Japan, China and the United States, to explore hydrogen-powered rail transportation.
