Indian Railways is considering changes to the schedule and route of the country’s first hydrogen-powered passenger train after low ridership on its existing Jind-Gohana-Sonipat service. The Delhi Division’s DRM has sought proposals for revised timings, and officials have submitted their recommendations. A survey is also being conducted to assess the possibility of extending the service towards Delhi.
The hydrogen train was inaugurated at Jind on July 17, 2026, and began carrying general passengers on the Jind-Gohana-Sonipat route from July 19. Official Railway information describes it as a 10-coach train with a capacity of around 2,600 passengers.
Why Is the Hydrogen Train Seeing Low Ridership?
The current service has struggled to attract passengers. According to the latest reports, only around 2,000 passengers travelled on the train between July 20 and August 20, despite its capacity of about 2,600 passengers. Other reports have put current daily usage at roughly 40 to 60 passengers over the full Jind-Sonipat journey.
One of the main issues identified is limited connectivity with other trains. At present, the hydrogen service mainly caters to passengers travelling between Jind, Gohana and Sonipat. Its existing timetable does not provide convenient connections for many passengers travelling onward towards Delhi.
Officials have also pointed to the location of several stations and halts. Some are around three to four kilometres from nearby villages and residential areas, while local transport links to these stations are limited. This makes access more difficult for passengers who need to walk between their villages and the railway stations.
Proposed New Timings for Better Delhi Connectivity
The current schedule has the hydrogen train reaching Sonipat at 9:40 am before departing for Gohana at 10:10 am.
Under the proposal submitted by officials, the train could leave Jind at 5:45 am and reach Sonipat at around 7:30 am. This would allow passengers heading towards Delhi to connect with local trains departing at 7:35 am, 7:50 am and 8:10 am. The proposal also points to the Jhelum Express at 9:28 am as another connection.
The proposed timetable is intended to make the service more useful for passengers travelling from Jind and Gohana towards Delhi.
Another suggestion is to keep the train at Sonipat during the daytime rather than at Jind. It could then leave Sonipat for Gohana and Jind at around 5:30 pm. This would provide a connecting option for passengers arriving at Sonipat from Delhi on an evening local train around 5:05 pm.
Delhi Extension and Panipat Route Under Consideration
Indian Railways is also examining the possibility of extending the hydrogen train towards Delhi, including a possible service up to Azadpur. Officials are evaluating the operational requirements and passenger demand before taking a final decision.
Another route option suggested by passengers is to extend the service beyond Sonipat towards Panipat and then cover Safidon before returning to Jind. The proposed circuit would provide access to a wider passenger base and could change the utilisation of the train.
The hydrogen train is currently a pilot project for clean rail transportation. The Railway Ministry has said the train uses hydrogen fuel-cell technology to generate electricity onboard, with water vapour as the by-product. The train has been designed for the Jind-Sonipat section with an operational speed of up to 75 kmph.
Any change in its route or timetable will depend on the required approvals, operational assessment and safety considerations.
Disclaimer: This article is based on reports and information available regarding proposed changes to India’s first hydrogen train service. The revised timetable, Delhi extension and alternative route options discussed above are proposals under consideration and should not be treated as final decisions unless confirmed by Indian Railways. Readers should check official Railway announcements for the latest schedule and route information.