Indian Railways, along with the Research Designs and Standards Organization, has completed preparations for the train’s maiden journey between Jind and Sonipat.

According to local reports, the train will travel up to 180km using 369kg of hydrogen at a speed of up to 110km per hour.

The Indian government has hailed the hydrogen-powered train as the world’s longest, with ten coaches, and the most powerful, with two driving power cars producing 2.4MW from hydrogen fuel cells combined.

The train will be refuelled using green hydrogen produced by a 1MW PEM electrolyser facility in Jind, which is currently in its final commissioning stages, The Times of India reported.

The country’s railways, once largely powered by diesel, are rapidly shifting to electric. Under Mission 100% Electrification, over 99% of India’s rail network has already been electrified.

Industry experts suggest hydrogen could play a role in rail transport in regions with little electrification.

It comes as India increasingly ramps up its activity in green hydrogen. The country is targeting five million tonnes of green hydrogen production annually, through its National Green Hydrogen Mission.

The country recently concluded its 13-part green ammonia auction, which secured 724,000 TPA for fertiliser plants and discovered prices as low as ₹49.75/kg ($0.57/kg).