Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah flagged off India’s first LNG-powered train in Gujarat on September 27, 2026, as part of a broader package of railway projects valued at over Rs 1,542 crore. The initiative includes the Kavach automatic train protection system, automatic block signalling, and the Sabarmati-Sarkhej railway line doubling project. The LNG-based train uses a diesel-LNG dual-fuel system, with two 1,400 HP Driving Power Cars at the Sabarmati Integrated Coaching Depot converted to run on both fuels. According to trial data, the system allows LNG to replace around 40 per cent of diesel consumption, reducing fuel costs and emissions including carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.

The projects aim to improve railway safety, increase line capacity and promote alternative-fuel technology. The Kavach system, developed indigenously, will cover 404 km of railway sections in the Ahmedabad division, including 157 km of the Ahmedabad-Palanpur section and 247 km of the Ahmedabad-Samakhiali section. The system is designed to prevent train collisions, protect against overspeeding and reduce risks linked to human error. An automatic block signalling system has also been introduced across 122.57 km of railway sections between Sabarmati-Kalol-Bhandu Motidau and Sabarmati-Sanand-Jakhwada at a cost of around Rs 118.83 crore. This system is intended to maintain safe distances between trains and increase route capacity.

The WAG-12 locomotive maintenance shed at Sabarmati, built at an estimated cost of Rs 700 crore, will provide maintenance for 300 high-horsepower electric locomotives designed to haul heavy and long freight trains. The Sabarmati-Sarkhej railway line doubling project, estimated at Rs 313.27 crore, will cover a 21-km stretch and is targeted for completion by March 2028. The project includes the construction of 16 minor bridges, 13 Road Under Bridges (RUBs), one major bridge and six level crossings. It is expected to improve connectivity towards the Sarkhej-Dholera region and support industrial and commercial activity in the area.

The LNG train, an 8-coach, non-AC chair car train, operates between Sabarmati and Mahesana during its inaugural run, though its regular route has not yet been finalised. The trial data suggests an estimated annual saving of Rs 11.9 lakh per year for one Driving Power Car and around Rs 23.9 lakh per year for an 8-coach rake. The projects launched in Gujarat are aimed at enhancing railway safety, increasing operational capacity and promoting alternative-fuel technology in rail transport.

The long-term impact of the LNG train on emissions and fuel costs remains to be seen, as well as the full extent of the benefits from the Kavach system and automatic block signalling. The success of the Sabarmati-Sarkhej doubling project will depend on its implementation and the ability to manage the increased line capacity without compromising safety or punctuality.