India's First LNG-Powered Train Rolls Out in Gujarat

India took a significant step towards reducing its reliance on diesel in railway operations as it flagged off its first LNG-powered train from Sabarmati Railway Station in Gujarat. The initiative, launched by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, aims to decrease diesel consumption, fuel costs, and emissions from train operations.

The train utilizes a dual-fuel system that combines diesel and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Two 1,400-horsepower Driving Power Cars at the Sabarmati Integrated Coaching Depot have been converted to run on both fuels. According to railway trial data, this technology is expected to lower fuel expenditure and emissions, including carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter.

The LNG train underwent over 2,000 kilometers of field trials to assess the technology's performance and reliability before its launch. The dual-fuel system allows the train to switch between LNG and diesel depending on fuel availability, providing operational flexibility. Each converted power car has also been equipped with an LNG storage tank.