India launched its first hydrogen-powered passenger train on the Jind-Sonipat route, aiming to cut railway emissions. But the article makes a crucial point: hydrogen trains only reduce emissions if the hydrogen itself is produced from renewable electricity. If the hydrogen comes from fossil-fuel-powered electrolysis or natural gas without carbon capture, the train's carbon footprint may be worse than diesel. The piece also notes that India's broad-gauge network is already fully electrified. Hydrogen trains make more sense for remote, non-electrified hilly routes where overhead power lines are impractical. However, the energy losses from electricity to hydrogen and back to electricity make the system expensive and inefficient compared to direct electrification. The article also warns that new rail lines through forests can fragment ecosystems and undermine carbon sequestration, regardless of the train technology used.
