Hydrogen trainset rake manufactured at ICF successfully passed load tests
Two days after Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that Bharat’s first hydrogen train is coming soon
The much anticipated hydrogen trainset rake manufactured at Integral Coach Factory in Chennai successfully passed load tests and is progressing well. It will be rolled out shortly, said its General Manager U Subba Rao in his Independence Day speech.
Two days after Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that Bharat’s first hydrogen train is coming soon.
In March, businessline reported that the cost of the 10-rake formation will be ₹118.24 crore. A pilot project on the Jind–Sonipat section of Northern Railway will convert a 1200 KW DEMU into a hydrogen fuel-cell-based Distributed Power Rolling Stock, thus producing zero emissions.
The work entails retrofitment of a 1600 HP DEMU (10 car rake) and setting up a Hydrogen fuelling plant at Jind. The 1600 HP DEMU rake will consist of two distributed power control systems and eight trailer coaches.
In March 2023, the Ministry of Railways announced development of 35 hydrogen fuel-cell-based trains for various heritage/hill routes has been included in Budget 2023-24 at a cost of ₹2,800 crore. Further, setting up of Hydrogen Infrastructure for heritage routes has also been included at a cost of ₹600 crores.
Rao in his speech said during the current year, the ICF plans to produce 9 rake of Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets. It will also manufacture 21 Amrit Bharat trains this year, and 25 for the next fiscal.
ICF will also develop Mixed Amrit Bharat 3.0 trains, offering a blend of AC and non-AC coaches for balanced comfort and affordability.
Semi-high-speed train
There is plan to introduce Gati Shakthi Freight EMU, a semi-high-speed train for e-commerce and FMCG logistics, equipped with advanced container handling systems and crew amenities, he said
For the current fiscal, ICF has been entrusted with a target of 4,302 coaches, including 3,127 LHB (Linke-Hofmann-Busch) coaches and 1,155 Distributed Power Rolling Stock coachess
Published on August 15, 2025
