By Indian Railways is making a big change to help the environment. They have started using a new type of train that runs on both Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and diesel. This special train is called a Dual-Fuel DEMU. This is the first time such a train has been used in India. It is a very important step for the country because it helps make travel cleaner and better for our air.
The main company helping with this project is called INOX India Limited or INOXCVA. They are experts in making special tanks and systems for very cold gases. For these new trains, they provided large 2,200-liter systems that can store and use LNG safely. These systems were put into 1,400 horsepower power cars that move the train. By using these systems, the train can use up to 40 percent less diesel. Instead of using only diesel, the train now uses a mix of both fuels. This makes the train much more efficient and helps it run better on short and medium trips.
One of the biggest benefits of this new technology is that it is good for the earth. When a train uses LNG instead of diesel, it releases fewer harmful gases into the air. This helps reduce greenhouse gases, which are the gases that make the planet warmer. Since many people in India use these trains to travel between cities and nearby towns, having cleaner trains will make the air around the tracks much fresher. It is a smart way to modernize the railway network without needing to change every single track to electricity right away.
This project was planned by a special group within the Indian Railways that looks for better and cleaner fuels. At first, they decided to convert 10 power units into these hybrid models. Before they started the regular service, they tested two units very carefully in the Sabarmati area of Ahmedabad. These units traveled more than 2,000 kilometers during their trials to make sure they were safe and worked well. The tests were successful, and the trains met all the rules and performance needs. Because the trials went so well, the Indian Railways is now ready to add more of these trains to their fleet.
The CEO of INOX India, Deepak Acharya, said the company is very proud to help the Indian Railways. He explained that using LNG is a great way to start moving towards even cleaner energy in the future. He also mentioned that after LNG, the next big step could be using liquid hydrogen. Hydrogen would be even better because it produces zero emissions. For now, LNG is a very good “transition fuel” that helps the country reach its green goals.
Looking ahead, there are even more plans to improve these trains. The company wants to double the size of the LNG tanks on the trains. If the tanks are bigger, the trains will be able to travel much longer distances without needing to stop for fuel. This will make the dual-fuel trains even more useful for different routes across India. This new technology shows how India is using innovation to make public transport better for everyone while keeping the environment safe and clean.
Indian Railways has launched India’s first dual-fuel DEMU train running on LNG and diesel, reducing diesel consumption by up to 40%. Developed with INOX India Limited, the system uses 2,200-liter LNG tanks installed in 1,400 HP power cars. The initiative aims to cut emissions, improve fuel efficiency, and support India’s transition toward cleaner and more sustainable railway operations.
