Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday flagged off India’s first LNG-powered train from Sabarmati station in Ahmedabad, marking a major step in the Railways’ shift toward cleaner fuel.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel was present at the flag-off. The dual-fuel locomotive replaces about 40 per cent of its diesel consumption with liquefied natural gas, cutting both fuel costs and emissions.

The train completed a 2,000-kilometre trial run before the launch, during which the dual-fuel engine was tested across different operating conditions.

Railway officials said the success of the LNG train opens the door for wider use of the fuel across the network, as part of the goal of ending diesel use in train operations by 2030.

The project is seen as a key milestone in India’s efforts to green its transport sector and reduce dependence on imported crude oil.

Indian Railways is the world’s fourth-largest rail network and a major consumer of diesel. Officials estimate that shifting locomotives to LNG could significantly cut the fuel bill while lowering particulate and nitrogen oxide emissions along busy freight corridors.