Ahmedabad launches India’s FIRST LNG-powered train with 40% diesel replacement

India’s railway network is testing a new fuel mix. India’s first train powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) was flagged off from Sabarmati in Ahmedabad on September 27. It uses a diesel-LNG dual-fuel system that can replace up to 40% of diesel use. The technology is being tested for its potential to lower fuel costs. The launch was part of a wider set of railway projects announced in Ahmedabad.

The train’s Driving Power Cars (DPCs) have been fitted with technology that allows them to run on both diesel and liquefied natural gas.

Two 1400 HP DPCs at the Sabarmati Integrated Coaching Depot have been converted for the trials. Indian Railways has already completed around 2000 km of field testing. Furthermore, the engine can switch between LNG and diesel depending on fuel availability. This allows the train to retain the operational capabilities of a diesel engine while using LNG as a partial replacement. 

According to official data, LNG could replace around 40% of the diesel normally consumed by the converted engines. The shift is also expected to lower fuel expenditure and emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.

With each converted DPC carrying an LNG tank of around 2,200 litres, the train can hold up to 900 kg of LNG and cover roughly 1,600 km on a full tank. The Railways will now assess the technology’s long-term fuel and emission savings while monitoring its operational performance.

The LNG-powered train is part of a wider railway upgrade package, with projects worth more than ₹1,542 crore covering safety, signalling, freight infrastructure and line capacity.