TÜV SÜD, MEDHA and Indian Railways extend hydrogen rail collaboration after landmark train approval

TÜV SÜD and MEDHA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to deepen their collaboration with Indian Railways on hydrogen-powered rail vehicles, according to TÜV SÜD's official press release. The agreement, titled "Decarbonising Rail Transport in India," follows the successful completion of a lighthouse project that ran from 2024 to 2026 and delivered India's first domestically developed hydrogen-electric multiple unit, together with its supporting hydrogen production and refuelling station, both approved for operation by Indian Railways.

Under that flagship project, MEDHA integrated the fuel cell-based drive system into a Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) vehicle platform and carried out static and dynamic tests, along with oscillation and performance trials. TÜV SÜD conducted Independent Safety Assessments (ISA) covering the hydrogen and traction battery systems of the vehicle as well as the hydrogen production and refuelling station. The train entered service on 17 July 2026.

The new MoU builds on that track record, formalising a continued technical partnership between TÜV SÜD and MEDHA while keeping Indian Railways as the framework's third party and eventual operator. Sumit Singhal, Senior Vice President at TÜV SÜD South Asia, said the safety requirements for hydrogen applications in the rail sector are extremely complex and challenging, underscoring why independent, third-party safety validation remains central to the collaboration.

Indian Railways is pursuing hydrogen traction to cut carbon emissions across its network. The renewed agreement gives the three parties a formal structure for future hydrogen rail projects in India, with MEDHA continuing to supply propulsion and integration engineering and TÜV SÜD continuing to provide independent safety certification for hydrogen and battery systems and associated refuelling infrastructure.