India Launches Its First LNG-Powered Train

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Indian Railways has undergone major modernisation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shah on Sunday flagged off the country’s first LNG-powered train from Sabarmati Railway Station in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and inaugurated railway development projects worth ₹1,472 crore. He said several new facilities, including dedicated freight corridors, rapid rail systems and modern railway stations, have been developed since 2014. Shah also alleged that the previous Congress-led government was involved in corruption and scams worth ₹12 lakh crore.

Shah said diesel consumption by the Railways declined from 293 crore litres in 2015-16 to 108 crore litres in 2024-25. He also said 7,188 km of railway routes were electrified during 2023-24 and that 99.6% of the railway network has been electrified. The new LNG train uses a dual-fuel system combining liquefied natural gas and diesel, with LNG designed to replace around 40% of diesel consumption. The initiative aims to reduce diesel use, fuel costs and emissions.