India's First LNG-Powered Train Hits the Rails
India's Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently flagged off the country's first LNG-powered train from Sabarmati, Gujarat. The train is a significant step towards reducing diesel consumption and emissions on non-electrified rail routes. It operates on a dual-fuel traction system that uses liquefied natural gas (LNG) to power two 1,400 HP driving power cars.
The LNG-diesel combination allows for up to 40% substitution of conventional diesel consumption during line-haul operations. The train's cryogenic fuel storage tanks hold enough LNG to power the engine for approximately 444 km of daily operation. This innovative technology aims to decarbonize non-electrified and transitional rail routes, reduce expensive fossil-fuel diesel consumption, and curb greenhouse gas and particulate emissions.
The key features of this new train include dual-fuel traction, cryogenic fuel storage, and emission reduction capabilities. The LNG-diesel combination reduces particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions compared to conventional diesel-powered trains. The operational cost savings are estimated at ₹11.9 lakh per DPC, amounting to approximately ₹23.9 lakh per eight-coach train.