India's First LNG Dual Fuel Train Starts at Sabarmati
Union Home Minister Amit Shah flagged off India's first LNG dual fuel train at Sabarmati Railway Station on Sunday, September 27, 2026. This pilot project is designed to test the feasibility of substituting a significant portion of diesel consumption with cleaner liquefied natural gas in existing train engines.
The initiative involved the conversion of two 1,400 horsepower Driving Power Cars at the Sabarmati Integrated Coaching Depot. This new technology allows the units to replace nearly 40 per cent of their diesel usage with gas. Before the official launch, these converted cars successfully completed more than 2,000 kilometres of field trials.
Route and Operational Details
The inaugural run is being managed by Western Railway, operating between Sabarmati and Mahesana Junction. The journey covers a distance of 62 kilometres and takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. The train, which is an eight-coach non-air conditioned Diesel Electric Multiple Unit, will make stops at the following locations:
- Jhulasan
- Dangarwa
- Ambliyasan
- Jagudan
Each Driving Power Car is now equipped with an onboard cryogenic tank with a capacity of 2,200 litres, which holds roughly 950 to 1,000 kg of usable gas. This setup supports approximately 444 kilometres of daily operation. A key feature of this engine design is its flexibility; the system allows the train to switch back to diesel fuel immediately if gas