India would roll out its first hydrogen-powered train, designed, developed and manufactured indigenously, on the next Independence Day, Minister for Railways, Communication, Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Thursday.
India has been able to build trains which are among the best in the world and the next big thing would be when the hydrogen-powered train is rolled out on August 15, 2023, he said while speaking at a programme ‘Modi@20-- Dreams Meet Delivery’ organised at the SOA here.
A train, built at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, recently is among the best five trains in the world, he said, adding that it moves at a speed of 180 km per hour which has amazed the world.
Replying to a question, Vaishnaw said the IIT-Madras is developing the Hyperloop which he described as the most promising transport. “The biggest factor in transport is friction between the vehicle and air. If you create a vacuum and move the vehicle in that vacuum, the energy required for movement would be less and the vehicle can reach a speed of 700 km per hour,” he said.
Replying to another question, he said the punctuality of trains in India is around 89% at present which needs to reach 100%.