What Happened
- Indian Railways operationalised the country's first Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and diesel dual-fuel Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) train at Sabarmati, Ahmedabad on February 17, 2026, in a milestone for railway decarbonisation.
- INOX India Limited (INOXCVA) supplied advanced 2,200-litre LNG receiving, storage, and regasification systems for integration with the Dual Power Unit (DPU) cars of the DEMU trains.
- The dual-fuel system enables LNG to substitute up to 40% of diesel consumption, significantly lowering greenhouse gas emissions and operating costs.
- The technology was developed under Indian Railways' Alternative Fuels Division (now IRAOF), which had initiated a programme to convert 10 DPUs from conventional diesel to dual-fuel LNG-diesel hybrid operation.
- Following successful trials and certifications by Indian Railways at the Sabarmati Division, Indian Railways is now inducting additional INOXCVA-supplied systems; plans are underway to double on-board LNG capacity for longer route operations.
Static Topic Bridges
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG): Properties, Production, and Transport
LNG is natural gas (primarily methane, CH₄) cooled to approximately -162°C, at which point it becomes liquid, reducing its volume to roughly 1/600th of its gaseous state. This dramatic volume reduction makes LNG economically viable for transportation over long distances where pipeline infrastructure does not exist, and for use in vehicles where storage density is critical. LNG is distinct from CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), which is stored at high pressure (200-250 bar) in gaseous form — LNG's liquid state gives it higher energy density per unit volume, making it more suitable for heavy transport applications.
- LNG production: natural gas is purified, cooled at -162°C in liquefaction plants (typically at natural gas production sites or import terminals)
- India's LNG imports: approximately 22-24 MMTPA (million metric tonnes per annum); largest suppliers are Qatar, USA, and Australia
- India's LNG regasification terminals: Dahej, Hazira, Dabhol, Kochi, Ennore, Mundra (combined capacity ~47 MMTPA)
- LNG vs. CNG: LNG is liquid (higher energy density, suited for heavy vehicles and long routes); CNG is compressed gas (suited for light vehicles and short urban routes)
- Environmental profile: LNG combustion emits ~25-30% less CO₂ than diesel, ~90% less NOx, minimal particulate matter and sulphur
Connection to this news: DEMU trains operate on medium-distance non-electrified routes where LNG's higher energy density (compared to CNG) makes it a practical alternative fuel — the INOXCVA system stores 2,200 litres of LNG on-board, enabling sufficient range without frequent refuelling.
Indian Railways' Decarbonisation Strategy
Indian Railways is the world's fourth-largest railway network and one of the largest single-entity energy consumers in India, burning approximately 2.8 billion litres of diesel annually (as of 2023). Electrification of the rail network is the primary decarbonisation pathway — the target of 100% electrification of broad-gauge network is substantially complete. However, electrification is not viable on all routes (particularly isolated branch lines and meter-gauge sections), making alternative fuels critical for non-electrified segments where DEMU trains operate.
- Indian Railways' 2030 targets: Net Zero carbon emissions by 2030 — world's first railway network with this ambition
- Electrification progress: Broad-gauge electrification ~96-97% complete as of 2025
- Alternative fuels under trial: LNG-diesel dual fuel (DEMU), hydrogen fuel cell (piloted on heritage routes), biodiesel blends
- DEMU (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit): used on non-electrified routes; typically 6-12 coaches; power from diesel-electric DPU cars
- National Mission for Green India and Climate targets under NDC (Nationally Determined Contribution): railways' electrification and fuel switching contribute to India's 2030 climate commitments
Connection to this news: The Sabarmati LNG-DEMU trial is a proof-of-concept for fuel switching on non-electrified routes — if scaled, it offers a bridge technology between current diesel dependency and eventual full electrification or hydrogen adoption.
India's Alternative Fuels Policy for Transport
India's push for alternative fuels in transport is driven by three intersecting priorities: reducing the import bill (India imports ~85% of its crude oil), cutting urban air pollution, and meeting climate commitments. The National Biofuel Policy 2018, the LNG Transport Fuel Policy, and the National Hydrogen Mission all address different segments of the transport sector. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has set a target of ~800 LNG fuelling stations by 2030 to enable a large-scale LNG transition for heavy transport. A Niti Aayog report projects that if only 10% of new diesel vehicles switch to LNG by 2032, India's oil import bill could fall by USD 1.5 billion.
- National Hydrogen Mission (2021): targets green hydrogen production of 5 MTPA by 2030; railways and heavy transport are target sectors
- FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles) schemes — for electric buses and two/three-wheelers
- Petroleum (Life-cycle of Petroleum Products) Rules: include provisions for LNG and alternative fuels
- Ethanol blending programme: E20 target by 2025-26 (for petrol vehicles) — separate track from LNG for heavy transport
- PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan: multimodal infrastructure integration; logistics cost reduction to 8% of GDP
Connection to this news: The DEMU LNG trial by Indian Railways is part of this broader national alternative fuel strategy — demonstrating that LNG is viable not just for road freight (long-haul trucks) but also for rail, potentially expanding the market for India's LNG regasification infrastructure.
Key Facts & Data
- LNG-DEMU trial operationalised: Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, February 17, 2026
- LNG substitution: up to 40% of diesel displacement per trip
- INOXCVA system capacity: 2,200 litres LNG on-board storage per DPU car
- Target scale: 10 DPUs (IRAOF programme initial batch); additional induction underway
- Indian Railways diesel consumption: ~2.8 billion litres/year (before electrification push)
- Indian Railways 2030 target: Net Zero carbon emissions
- LNG vs. diesel emissions: ~25-30% less CO₂, ~90% less NOx, near-zero particulate matter
- India's LNG import: ~22-24 MMTPA; regasification capacity ~47 MMTPA
- Niti Aayog estimate: 10% diesel-to-LNG shift in new vehicles by 2032 → USD 1.5 billion import bill saving
- LNG fuelling station target: ~800 stations by 2030