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India is going to change the face of rail transport with its first hydrogen-fuelled train, to be tested on a route between Haryana's Jind and Sonipat stations. Designed by the Research, Design, and Standard Organisation (RDSO), this is an initiative that makes India one among a small group of nations looking into hydrogen as a fuel for the railways.
The hydrogen train is a first-of-its-kind large-scale endeavour in the world. It is likely to be tested for the last time in the first quarter of the next year. RDSO has designed it with much care and added modern utility and innovation to make it on par with the global level. The project was first introduced in December 2021, when the design was presented during the International Innovative Rail Expo in Lucknow.
While hydrogen fuel has been tested in road transport, its application in railways is still in its nascent stages worldwide. India's advancements in this domain signify a major leap toward sustainable energy," said RDSO Director General Uday Borwankar while highlighting the features of the train.
The hydrogen-powered train has eight passenger coaches with a carrying capacity of 2,638 passengers per trip. Additionally, three more coaches have space for hydrogen cylinders and store integrated fuel cell converters, batteries, and air reservoirs. At a maximum speed of 110 km/h, this train is suited for shorter distances, and it has already been integrated at the Chennai Integral Coach Factory.
Hydrogen-powered trains generate electricity through the reaction of fuel cells combining hydrogen and oxygen to power the motor. While Germany and China are leading the way in hydrogen rail transport, success remains on smaller scales. In Germany, for example, there are hydrogen trains that run only two coaches.
India's hydrogen train will not only represent the nation's commitment to green energy but also place it ahead of the pack in regards to sustainable transportation. Officials have unofficially referred to the train as "Namo Green Rail," but indicated that the name will come at launch.
The nation breathes in as it eagerly awaits the trial run while this ambitious project reaffirms India's strides toward a greener, cleaner future in rail mobility.
India’s Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) are rapidly reshaping the country’s logistics landscape, with the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) between Dadri and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) emerging as a game-changing infrastructure project for supply chains and multimodal freight movement. Designed exclusively for cargo operations, the corridor is significantly reducing transit times, improving reliability, and easing congestion on conventional rail routes. Stretching nearly 1,500 km from Dadri in Uttar Pradesh to JNPA near Mumbai, the corridor forms the backbone of India’s western logistics artery, connecting manufacturing centres, inland container depots, industrial clusters, and ports. With dedicated tracks for freight trains, the network allows uninterrupted cargo movement at higher average speeds, eliminating delays caused by mixed passenger and freight operations. One of the biggest outcomes has been a sharp reduction in transit time. Freight movement between Dadri and JNPA that traditionally took close to 72 hours on congested rail routes is now being completed in nearly half the time, improving turnaround efficiency for exporters, importers, and logistics operators. Industry stakeholders believe the reduction in transit duration will strengthen India’s competitiveness in global trade and support the government’s target of lowering logistics costs as a percentage of GDP. The DFC network has also enabled the operation of longer and heavier freight trains, including double-stack container services on electrified routes. This has increased carrying capacity while lowering per-unit transportation costs. According to sector estimates, rail freight on dedicated corridors is considerably more energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable than road transport, aligning with India’s broader decarbonisation goals. Beyond operational efficiency, the corridors are catalysing the growth of integrated logistics ecosystems. Regions such as Dadri, Greater Noida, and Jewar are witnessing accelerated development of multimodal logistics parks, warehousing zones, and industrial hubs due to their strategic connectivity with both the Eastern and Western DFCs. The emerging “rail-road-air” logistics triangle around the National Capital Region is expected to attract substantial investments in manufacturing and distribution infrastructure. The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL) has reported rising freight train volumes on the operational stretches, indicating growing industry adoption. The completion of key links on the western corridor is expected to further enhance throughput and reduce dependency on road transport for long-haul cargo. Analysts say the dedicated rail network could become central to India’s ambition of creating faster, greener, and more resilient supply chains. As India continues investing in additional freight corridors across the country, the success of the Dadri-JNPA route demonstrates how infrastructure modernisation can directly influence trade efficiency, logistics performance, and industrial growth. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 https://cargoconnect.co.in/ 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬
DP World has been recognised as the ‘Best Rail Freight Service Provider’ for the second consecutive year at the National Logistics Excellence Awards (LEAPS Awards), reaffirming its growing leadership in India’s multimodal logistics and rail freight sector. The award was presented by Piyush Goyal at a ceremony held at Vanijya Bhawan. Organised under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the Logistics Excellence, Advancement, and Performance Shield (LEAPS) Awards recognise excellence and innovation across India’s logistics ecosystem, aligned closely with the PM GatiShakti initiative and the National Logistics Policy. DP World’s recognition highlights its integrated end-to-end rail logistics capabilities and extensive pan-India network connecting major ports with industrial and manufacturing hubs across key EXIM corridors. The company currently operates one of India’s largest private rail freight networks, comprising eight rail terminals, more than 90 rakes and over 16,000 containers equipped with double-stack capabilities. Its integrated rail, road and coastal logistics operations are further supported by digital tracking platforms aimed at improving visibility, efficiency and cargo movement reliability. Commenting on the achievement, Adhendru Jain, Chief Executive Officer - Rail & Inland Terminals, DP World Subcontinent (India) said, “We are proud to be recognised as the ‘Best Rail Freight Service Provider’ for the second consecutive year. The recognition reflects the company’s continued commitment to delivering technology-driven and efficient multimodal logistics solutions across India." The award further underscores DP World’s expanding role in strengthening port-to-hinterland connectivity, reducing logistics bottlenecks and enabling faster, more streamlined cargo movement nationwide.
A dedicated refrigerated container train, Aushadhi Express was flagged off from the Inland Container Depot (ICD) located in Sanathnagar, Hyderabad to strengthen cold-chain logistics for the pharmaceutical sector across the region. Operated by CONCOR, the train will run between Hyderabad and Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Navi Mumbai. The inaugural service was launched by South Central Railway General Manager Sanjay Kumar Srivastava and Container Corporation of India Limited chairman and MD Sanjay Swarup. Aushadhi Express is designed to transport life-saving medicines and other temperature-sensitive cargo while maintaining uninterrupted cooling, as it is equipped with diesel-powered refrigerated containers. The service is expected to improve efficiency and reliability in India’s pharmaceutical supply chains. Hyderabad, known as the country’s pharma hub, houses key clusters such as Genome Valley, Jeedimetla, Patancheru and Mucherla, all of which depend on seamless connectivity to export markets. It is noteworthy that the Hyderabad–JNPT corridor plays a critical role in linking these zones globally. The reefer rake is expected to reduce transit time, lower logistics costs, minimise wastage, and improving EXIM. Overall, this initiative is aligned with the central government’s PM GatiShakti programme, which aims to promote efficient, economical, and sustainable freight transport systems in the country.
