Union Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that the most-awaited hydrogen train will be manufactured by 2023. “First, it will run on heritage circuits like Kalka-Shimla and later it will be expanded to other places,” Vaishnaw said.
Further speaking over the introduction of hydrogen trains in the country, the minister said, “As the budget focuses on green growth, Railway will also contribute with the hydrogen train which will come by December 2023 and will be designed and manufactured in India. First, it will run on heritage circuits like Kalka-Shimla and later it will be expanded to other places,” he marked.
Vaishnaw said that PM Modi’s vision to show cultural heritage through trains would also be updated by adding new circuits like the Gurukripa circuit to the list.
Last month, the railway minister said they are developing a prototype of a hydrogen fuel-based train at the Northern Railway workshop which will be test-run on the Sonipat-Jind section in Haryana.
“We will roll out the hydrogen trains on the heritage routes from December 2023. This will mean that these heritage routes will go completely green,” said Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw.
On Budget 2023, Vaishnaw said that it will be like a growth engine for the country. “The FM has allocated ₹2.41 lakh crore for Railways which will be a big change for the sector as it will fulfil the aspirations of every passenger,” he said.
Highlighting the developments in the sector, the minister said that the Railway is growing every year. Under the ‘Amrit Bharat Station’ scheme, 1275 stations are being re-developed, whereas, the production of Vande Bharat trains will be revamped.
“Before 2014 only 3 km of track were laid every day, it increased to 12 km of track every day in the current year, and the target for next year is 16 km of track every day,” he added.