Indian Railways set to launch first hydrogen-powered train, trial runs expected by December
New Delhi: Indian Railways is set to introduce its first hydrogen train, with trial runs scheduled to begin in December 2024. This initiative, which will involve 35 hydrogen trains and significant investments in ground infrastructure, will place India among a select group of countries, Germany, France, Sweden, and China that operate hydrogen-powered trains.
Germany’s TUV-SUD has been engaged to conduct a third-party safety audit for the country's first hydrogen train, according to officials familiar with the project. Each train under the ‘Hydrogen for Heritage’ initiative is estimated to cost Rs 80 crores, with an additional Rs 70 crores investment for ground infrastructure on various heritage or hilly routes.
In addition to passenger trains, the Indian Railways is also developing five Hydrogen Fuel Cell-Based Tower Cars for maintenance purposes, each costing around Rs 10 crore.
A pilot project is already underway to retrofit a Hydrogen Fuel Cell on an existing Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) rake. The train, integrated at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, will operate on the Jind-Sonipat section of the Northern Railway. The hydrogen for this train will be sourced from a 1-megawatt (MW) Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) electrolyser in Jind, Haryana.
GreenH Electrolysis, the firm managing the hydrogen supply, stated that the electrolyser will produce approximately 430 kg of hydrogen per day. The refuelling infrastructure at Jind will include a 3,000 kg hydrogen storage facility, a hydrogen compressor, and two dispensers, enabling efficient refuelling of the trains.
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Minor boy strangled to death for ransom in UP's Sultanpur
Sultanpur (PTI): A debt-ridden neighbour allegedly kidnapped and murdered an 11-year-old boy boy at Sultanpur, police said on Wednesday.
The accused, Asif alias Sonu, demanded a ransom of Rs 5,00,000 for releasing Osama alias Sahil to repay his debts, Kotwali police station SHO Naradmuni Singh said.
"The incident took place in the Gandhinagar locality of Sultanpur. The victim's father, Mohd Shakeel, said his son went missing on Monday night after he left to attend a wedding procession. Despite searches, there was no trace of the child," the SHO said.
On Wednesday morning, Osama's body with strangulation marks was found at the residence of the accused whom the police arrested, he said.
Asif, who lives in the same neighbourhood as the victim, exploited the trust built between the two families to carry out the crime, the officer said.
The killing of the minor boy has triggered outrage in the area with the residents demanding stringent punishment for the accused.
The victim's family has called for death penalty for Asif.
