Railways dismisses viral claim of hydrogen train being pulled by diesel engine
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Indian Railways has dismissed a viral social media claim that the country's first hydrogen train was being pulled by a diesel locomotive because its hydrogen-powered system had developed a fault as "misleading and factually baseless."
The clarification came after a video circulated online showing the train being hauled by a diesel engine.
In a statement, Northern Railway said the hydrogen train operates only on the Jind-Sonipat section in Haryana and that using a locomotive to move the train for maintenance is part of standard operating procedure.
"It is standard procedure for the hydrogen train to be hauled by a locomotive while travelling to and from maintenance. The viral post is misleading and factually baseless," the railway said.
According to a Railway Board letter dated May 22, 2026, the 10-coach hydrogen fuel cell-based train is approved to operate only on the Jind-Sonipat route, while its scheduled maintenance is carried out at Shakurbasti. The train therefore has to be moved between Jind and Shakurbasti in a "dead" condition, meaning it is hauled by a locomotive.
The hydrogen train, flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 17, began commercial service on the Jind-Sonipat route on Sunday.
Operating as train numbers 74009 and 74010, it covers the 89-km route in about two hours at a maximum operational speed of 75 kmph. The train runs daily between Jind Junction and Sonipat, stopping at 12 stations en route, including Jind City, Gohana, and Mohana, Haryana.
Train number 74010 departs Jind Junction at 7.40 am and reaches Sonipat at 9.40 am. On the return journey, train number 74009 leaves Sonipat at 10.40 am and arrives at Jind Junction at 1 pm.
