Railways in preparing to run hydrogen train on Jind-Sonipat section as pilot project

Hydrogen Train: Hydrogen -driven trains are going to run soon on rail tracks in the country. However, experts say that this will not be so easy because it is also more spent on it and it is also challenging technically.

Pilot project will start soon on this section

There is a preparation to run the hydrogen train on the Jind-Sonipat section as a pilot project. For this, hydrogen fuel cell will be installed on the existing diesel electric multiple unit (DEMU). The cost of the train and the cost of ground infrastructure is Rs 111 crore. It is to be launched by May this year. Its cost is equivalent to the 16 coach Vande Bharat train.

2800 crores spent on 35 hydrogen trains

The budget of 2023-24 included a cost of Rs 2800 crore for the construction of 35 hydrogen fuel based trains for various heritage/mountainous routes. Apart from this, a cost of Rs 600 crore was also included for hydrogen infrastructure for heritage lines. Experts believe that the expenditure on hydrogen train project is very high. Railways have electrified all 70,000 routes of broad gauge networks except trains built for tourism or heritage purposes.

Running cost of hydrogen trains more

According to an estimate by Indian Railways, the running cost of hydrogen fuel trains will be higher. Later, if the number of trains increases, the cost will also be reduced. According to a report by Business Today, Lalit Chandra Trivedi, former General Manager of Indian Railways, says that green hydrogen is expensive and it is necessary to reduce the cost to bring diesel or electrification equal. Railways are sent directly to overhead electrical devices via the grid after renewable energy is generated by energy, while there is no such option in terms of hydrogen.

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