India has launched its first hydrogen-powered train, running on an 89 kilometer route between Jind and Sonipat in Haryana. The train uses a 1,200 kilowatt hydrogen fuel cell system that emits only water and steam. Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the inaugural journey, calling it a step toward sustainable development. The project cost around $12 million, which officials acknowledged is higher than a conventional train but expect costs to drop as the technology scales. India joins Germany, Japan, China, and the US in testing hydrogen trains. The country also opened a hydrogen storage and refueling facility in Jind with a 3,000 kilogram capacity. Some key components like fuel cells were imported, but the railway ministry says the train was developed domestically. The launch is part of a broader push to modernize India's rail network, which carried 7.41 billion passengers last year, and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
