Indian Railways recently operationalised the nation’s first liquefied natural gas and diesel dual-fuel DEMU at Sabarmati, Ahmedabad on 17 February 2026 with INOX India Limited (INOXCVA) supplying 2,200-litre LNG receiving, storage and regasification systems for integration with 1,400 HP driving power units. The systems were fitted to the driving power cars to permit simultaneous use of LNG and diesel while retaining conventional engine operation.

The equipment is engineered to permit seamless dual-fuel operation and to substitute up to 40 per cent of diesel with LNG, improving fuel efficiency and lowering greenhouse gas emissions on short and medium-distance routes. The deployment was described by the company as a significant step in advancing energy-efficient, low-emission rail mobility and reinforcing its role in rail decarbonisation.

The initiative was conceived by the Indian Railways Alternative Fuels Division to convert an initial batch of 10 driving power units to a dual-fuel hybrid model, and INOXCVA provided the technology. The company had earlier delivered two units that underwent trials and certification at the Sabarmati Division and, following proven performance, additional units are now ready for induction under the contract.

The LNG fuel tank system was delivered through CLH Gaseous Fuel Applications Pvt. Ltd., and INOXCVA is the only provider in India to have completed delivery, testing and validation of cryogenic LNG systems for rail applications. Plans to double the on-board LNG capacity were indicated so trains could cover longer distances, and CLH handled the engine conversion from diesel to the dual-fuel configuration.

INOX India Limited said it views LNG as a transition fuel toward cleaner mobility and cited liquid hydrogen as a future frontier for zero-emission rail locomotives, noting its decades of cryogenic expertise and research and development capabilities. The company, with an after-sales network across 25 countries and an international user base, continues to pursue adoption of LNG for industrial and automotive purposes.