India Enters Dual-Fuel Era as Railways Launches First LNG Train

Indian Railways has introduced its first LNG-diesel dual-fuel DEMU train, expanding on the country's efforts to transition away from diesel fuel. The new train was launched in Sabarmati, Gujarat, and is designed to run on both liquefied natural gas (LNG) and diesel.

The dual-fuel system allows the engine to switch between LNG and diesel depending on operational requirements and fuel availability. This setup replaces around 40% of diesel consumption with LNG, aiming to reduce fuel use and emissions. The train's eight coaches feature non-AC chair car seating, and it began its inaugural run from Sabarmati to Mahesana Junction.

The driving power cars (DPCs) have been converted for the project, with each holding approximately 2,200 liters of LNG, equivalent to around 950-1,000 kg of usable fuel. According to estimates, one DPC can cover about 444 km on a full LNG load. The system is designed to maintain power and operational reliability while using both fuels.

The introduction of the LNG train follows the launch of India's first hydrogen train earlier in July 2026. The hydrogen train uses fuel cells to generate electricity from hydrogen and oxygen, producing water vapor as a by-product. In contrast, the LNG train utilizes an internal-combustion engine converted to run on both LNG and diesel.