Is India's Hydrogen Train Being Pulled by a Locomotive Due to Failure? Fact Check Calls Claim Misleading
A claim circulating on social media suggests India's hydrogen train project has failed because a locomotive is seen pulling it. However, Northern Railway officials have clarified that this is standard procedure for maintenance movements. The train operates independently on its commercial route.
A claim circulating on social media asserts that India's hydrogen train project has failed because a locomotive is pulling the hydrogen train, implying it cannot run on hydrogen. This claim is misleading.
The Claim Spreads
The claim, which spread via posts on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), suggested that the visible use of a locomotive to move the hydrogen train indicated a failure of the indigenous hydrogen train project. The posts implied the train was unable to operate on its own hydrogen power, thus requiring conventional traction. Has India's Ministry of Finance Asked RBI and SEBI to Regulate Crypto? Fact Check Calls Claim Misleading.
Misleading Claim About Failure of India's Hydrogen Train
Delhi Vision of Northern Railway Dismisses Hydrogen Train Failure
Official Clarification
The Delhi Division of Northern Railway addressed the claim directly. According to a statement posted on X, the Delhi Division NR clarified that while the hydrogen train operates independently between Jind and Sonipat, using a locomotive for its movement to and from maintenance facilities is a standard operating procedure. This means the train's primary function on hydrogen power for passenger service is unaffected by these maintenance movements. Maintenance operations for the hydrogen train are carried out at Shakur Basti in Delhi, as reported by Swarajya.
India's Hydrogen Train Project
India's first indigenous hydrogen-powered train, also known as the 'Hydrogen Heritage train,' was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 17, 2026. It officially began commercial passenger service on the Jind-Sonipat route on July 19, 2026, operating as train numbers 74009 and 74010, according to The Indian Express. The train covers 89 km in two hours with an operational speed of up to 75 kmph and makes two round trips daily, consuming approximately 300 kg of hydrogen, as reported by Mint. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) highlighted this project as a significant step in adopting next-generation technology, generating its own electricity onboard using hydrogen. The Hindu noted that hydrogen-powered trains are still in a nascent stage globally, with Germany being the first to introduce commercial hydrogen passenger trains. Was Pakistani Cricketer Hasan Ali Beaten on an Indian Train? Fact Check Reveals Truth About Viral Video.
Conclusion
The claim that India's hydrogen train project has failed because a locomotive is pulling it is misleading. The Delhi Division of Northern Railway has clearly stated that using a locomotive for maintenance travel is a standard procedure, and the train successfully operates on hydrogen power for its commercial passenger service.
Fact check
A locomotive is pulling India\'s hydrogen train because it cannot run on hydrogen, proving the project has failed.
The claim is misleading; using a locomotive for the hydrogen train\'s maintenance movement is standard procedure, and the train operates independently for passenger service.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 19, 2026 08:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).