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In an unprecedented move, India is gearing up to launch its first hydrogen-powered train, designed, developed and manufactured indigenously, on the next Independence Day, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said.

India, today, is building world class trains and with hydrogen-powered train is the pipeline, country’s rail will witness paradigm shift in rail travel and rail infrastructure.

Recently, Germany launched the world’s first hydrogen-powered train. Hydrogen being an environment-friendly fuel, will help nation keep a check on carbon footprints also.

Vaishnav said that the train, built at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, was recently found to be among the best five trains in the world. It moved at a speed of 180 km per hour which amazed the world, he said.

“This train is better than all other trains on multiple parameters. A glass of water kept in the driver’s cabin stays undisturbed even when the train moves at the maximum speed indicating its stability,” Vaishnaw said.

Referring to the Vande Bharat Express train, he said it took only 52 seconds to move from zero speed to 100 km per hour while the famed Bullet train of Japan took 55 seconds for the same.

Vaishnaw said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked the engineers to build world-class trains which should be safe, stable and consume less energy besides running at a good speed.

Attention was also being provided to cleanliness of railway stations and a satellite map had been prepared to identify 132 district headquarter towns that needed railway connectivity.

The Detailed Project Report for the same was being prepared, the railway minister said.

He said punctuality of trains in India was around 89 per cent at present, which needed to reach 100 per cent.

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