India Flags Off First LNG-Powered Train Amid Railway Modernization Push
Union Home Minister Amit Shah flagged off India's first LNG-powered train from Sabarmati Railway Station in Gujarat, marking a significant step towards modernizing the country's railway network. The eight-coach non-AC chair car train uses LNG-diesel dual-fuel technology, allowing its engines to operate on both liquefied natural gas and diesel.
The Railways has converted two 1,400-horsepower driving power cars for the system, with over 2,000 km of field trials completed. This technology could reduce diesel consumption by around 40 per cent, lower fuel costs, and decrease emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter.
Shah also used the occasion to highlight increased railway allocations for Gujarat, noting that the state received an annual allocation of around Rs 589 crore between 2009 and 2014, while the allocation for 2026-27 has risen to Rs 17,336 crore. The government's focus is on expanding railway infrastructure, improving passenger amenities, increasing freight capacity, strengthening safety measures, and introducing modern technologies.