Hydrogen-propelled locomotive is the next big thing that the Indian Railways has set its eyes on. The Indian Railways Organisation for Alternate Fuel is in an “advanced stage” to develop a technology for use of hydrogen as a source of fuel for its locomotives, which is part of its greater plans to reduce its dependency on diesel and electricity. IROAF, a body under Railway Ministry, is working on this project to use solar energy to make hydrogen. Railways uses nearly diesel worth Rs 11,000 crore to run locomotives in both the passenger and freight category. “We are seriously looking at hydrogen and solar energy applications for our fleet. As per international prediction hydrogen is going to be only source of energy in future. The future is no doubt full of excitement,” a Railway official said. Besides hydrogen, Railways has also cleared use of blended diesel with 10 per cent bio diesel for use in diesel locomotives. IROAF is setting up four bio-diesel plant for production of the fuel on a mass scale. Out of these, contract for two plants have been awarded and the work is in progress. These plants situated at Raipur in Chhattisgarh and at Tondiyarpet in Chennai are expected to be operational by March 2013. For the remaining two plants, land is being located in different Zonal Railways. Railway also proposes to use compressed natural gas (CNG) and diesel in dual fuel mode on diesel electric multiple units (DEMUs). For this purpose, a project has been sanctioned for conversion of 100 DEMUs into dual fuel mode which is under implementation. Railway official say their ultimate goal for gas related was heading towards extensive usage of LNG with the help of international majors like M/S Westport. “In a few years prices of LNG are going to be as attractive as CNG,” they claimed. Natural gas (NG) when compressed to about 3600psi becomes CNG. The same natural gas when compressed and cooled to minus 162 degree Celsius gets liquefied and is called LNG (liquefied natural gas). With higher calorific value, LNG offers better mobility for transportation and storage than CNG. LNG is much safer that diesel, as the auto ignition temperature of LNG is 537°C, as compared to around 210°C of diesel.