30 Dec 2024
It is the first large-scale attempt worldwide to use hydrogen as a fuel for trains.
The Research, Design, and Standard Organisation (RDSO), an Indian Railways wing, designed and released the model in December 2021. During the International Innovative Rail Expo in Lucknow, it was named NaMo Green Rail. However, an official name has yet to be decided.
The train is scheduled for a final trial between Jind and Sonipat stations in Haryana in the first quarter of 2025, and operations will begin thereafter. Integration is being done at Chennai's Integral Coach Factory (ICF).
The train will have 8 coaches and a capacity of 2,638 passengers. Its maximum speed will be 110 km/hour. Three additional coaches will store hydrogen cylinders and integrated fuel cell converters, air reservoirs, and batteries. It will be deployed on short distances.
Hydrogen is used globally as a sustainable fuel in road transport, but its usage in rail transport hasn’t seen much success. The performance of NaMo Green Rail could be groundbreaking.