Hydrogen train Delhi route soon? 2,600-seat train carries just 40-60 passengers; Railways explores Azadpur extension

India’s first indigenous hydrogen-powered train could soon be extended to Delhi after seeing limited passenger traffic on its existing 89-km Jind-Sonipat route in Haryana. The train, which began operations on July 17, has a capacity of around 2,600 passengers, but only about 40-60 passengers reportedly travel on the full route, according to officials cited by PTI.

Indian Railways is considering extending the hydrogen train to Azadpur station in Delhi, located close to the city’s wholesale fruits and vegetables market. Railway officials said the train has completed two months of successful operations as a technology demonstrator, while teams are working on the requirements for extending its service towards Delhi.

The low ridership appears to be linked more to the route than the train itself. The hydrogen service replaced a DEMU train that also had limited passenger traffic. Railway staff said there are few office commuters or industrial workers travelling between Jind and Sonipat, while three other DEMU services on the route also reportedly see low footfall. Local passengers have therefore suggested extending the train towards Delhi to make better use of the service.

Fuel range is not expected to be the biggest hurdle. Officials said the train can cover around 250-300 km on a full tank, while the distance between Jind and Delhi is about 130 km. At present, however, the train can be refuelled only at Jind. Capacity could be a bigger challenge, as the 10-coach hydrogen train can carry around 2,600 passengers, while trains serving Delhi often require 18-20 coaches because of high commuter demand and track capacity constraints.

If extending the hydrogen train to Delhi proves difficult, local passengers have suggested changing its route within Haryana. One proposal is to run the train from Jind to Sonipat, then towards Panipat and Safidon before returning to Jind. The proposed circuit would cover around 180 km and could serve more commuters, particularly because Panipat is an important industrial area.

The train’s launch in July marked an important step in Indian Railways’ efforts to explore hydrogen-powered transportation. Railway officials have described it as a pilot project and said experts are closely monitoring its operation and trial runs towards Delhi. Since the technology is new and passenger safety remains a priority, the final decision on extending the hydrogen train service to Delhi will be taken after further assessment.