Indian Railways Tests First Hydrogen-Powered Coach | 29 Jul 2025

Source: IE 

Why in News?  

Indian Railways has successfully tested its first hydrogen-powered coach at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, as part of its “Hydrogen for Heritage” initiative.  

  • The project involves converting two 1600 HP diesel power cars into Hydrogen Fuel Cell systems and setting up a 3,000 kg hydrogen refuelling station at Jind, Haryana.  
  • The design and testing are being carried out by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO). 

What are the Key Benefits of Hydrogen as a Power Source?  

  • High Energy Density and Versatility: Hydrogen possesses one of the highest energy-to-weight ratios among known fuels, making it exceptionally well-suited for heavy-duty transportation sectors. 
    • Furthermore, it is versatile and can be used in fuel cells, internal combustion engines, or as a feedstock in industrial processes. 
  • Zero Emission Energy Carrier: When used in fuel cells, hydrogen emits only water vapor as a byproduct, making it a critical enabler of clean mobility and industrial decarbonization. 
  • Supports Renewable Energy Integration: Hydrogen acts as an energy storage vector, allowing excess electricity from intermittent renewable sources (like solar and wind) to be stored in the form of hydrogen via electrolysis.  
    • This helps in grid stabilization, peak shaving, and achieving round-the-clock (RTC) power supply—a key requirement for energy reliability and sustainability. 
  • Decarbonization of Hard-to-Abate Sectors: Green hydrogen enables deep decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors such as steel manufacturing, cement production, oil refining, fertilizers, and chemical industries, where direct electrification is either technically or economically unfeasible. 

Note: Hydrogen is central to India’s strategy to achieve energy independence and Net Zero emissions by 2070.  India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission aims to make the country a global hub for green hydrogen production and export, positioning India as a key player in the emerging hydrogen economy. 

  •  Hydrogen Fuel Cell: It is an electrochemical device that converts chemical energy of hydrogen into electricity through a reaction with oxygen, with water and heat as the only by-products. 
  • Applications of Hydrogen Fuel Cell:  
    • Transportation: Powering cars, buses, trucks, trains, and drones. 
    • Stationary Power: Backup and off-grid power for homes, businesses, and data centers. 
    • Portable Power: Charging laptops, phones, and equipment in remote areas. 
    • Industrial Use: Forklifts, cranes, and machinery in warehouses and factories. 
    • Space Exploration: Powering spacecraft (e.g., NASA uses hydrogen fuel cells particularly in their crewed space missions like the Apollo). 

What are the Key Technological Developments in Indian Railways?  

  • Artificial Intelligence & Automation 
    • ‘Gajraj’ Elephant Detection System: AI-based tool using optical fiber to detect elephant movement near tracks. 
    • AI in Namo Bharat (RRTS) Trains: AI-enabled security surveillance and automated schedule optimization. 
  • Rail Safety Technologies 
    • Kavach (Automatic Train Protection): Prevents signal passing at danger (SPAD) and over-speeding. 
      • Uses RFID to apply brakes automatically. 
      • Certified at SIL-4 level, error probability: 1 in 10,000 years. 
    • Ultrasonic Flaw Detection (USFD): Detects rail cracks and flaws to prevent derailments. 
      • Used for real-time track condition monitoring. 
  • Signalling & Interlocking Systems 
    • Electronic Interlocking (EI): Widely adopted to reduce human error and automate signal control. 
    • Automatic Block Signalling (ABS): Railway signaling system that allows for increased train traffic on high-density routes by enabling multiple trains to operate simultaneously in the same direction. 
  • Sustainability:  
    • Bio-toilets: Bio-toilets in Indian Railways use anaerobic bacteria to decompose human waste in a sealed biodigester tank, converting it into water and gases. 
      • Developed by DRDO, these systems prevent open discharge on tracks, improving hygiene and reducing corrosion.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Q. With reference to bio-toilets used by the Indian Railways, consider the following statements: (2015)

  1. The decomposition of human waste in the bio toilets is initiated by a fungal inoculum.   
  2. Ammonia and water vapour are the only end products in this decomposition which are released into the atmosphere.   

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only    

(b) 2 only    

(c) Both 1 and 2   

(d) Neither 1 nor 2   

Ans: (d)