EDITORIAL GURU ( 09 JANUARY 20) - During the 107th Indian Science Congress, the Indian Railways has announced that it will build a hydrogen-powered rail engine by the end of 2021. - The Indian Railways Organisation for Alternate Fuels (IROAF) will be developing a hydrogen-powered rail engine — a technology that has been demonstrated successfully only in Germany so far. - The proposed train will have four passenger coaches operating at 75 km/hr speed. - One coach will carry the hydrogen gas cylinders, fuel cells, supercapacitors and DC converters. - Hydrogen will be the input to the fuel cell and the power output of the fuel cell will drive the train. - The next phase is to generate hydrogen on board the train from water. This means that water will be converted into hydrogen

through water splitting technologies and hydrogen will then be used as the input for fuel cells. It can carry up to 300 passengers with seats for 150, boasting a top speed of - Germany rolls out world’s first hydrogen-powered train - Sep 16 140 km/h.

These locomotives named iLint trains emit zero emissions, making them eco-friendly. In between runs, the Coradia iLint trains will be fueled at a mobile hydrogen filling station.

This train technology offers greener & quieter alternative to diesel on non-electrified railway lines.

These trains can run for around 1,000 km on a single tank of hydrogen, similar to the range of diesel trains.

These hydrogen trains are manufactured by French TGV-maker Alstom.

The only disadvantage these hydrogen trains is that they are more expensive than fossil fuel-based trains.

Other countries are also looking into hydrogen trains including Britain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Italy, and Canada. In France, the government has already said it wants the first hydrogen train to be on the rails by 2022.

कितना सीखा ? 1- Which country rolls out world’s first hydrogen- powered train - Germany 2- These locomotives known as - iLint trains 3- These hydrogen trains are manufactured by - French TGV-maker Alstom 4- Hydrogen trains are equipped with fuel cells that produce electricity by combining ____ with oxygen. - hydrogen 5- These trains can run for around ____on a single tank of hydrogen - 1,000 km - Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary is located in North District, Sanguem taluka near the town of Valpoi. Owing to the presence of Bengal Tigers, it can be declared as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger. - It has been declared an International Area because of the presence of the Nilgiri wood-pigeon, Malabar parakeet, Malabar grey , Grey-headed Bulbul, Rufous babbler, White-bellied blue-flycatcher and Crimson-backed sunbird. - This sanctuary was formed in 1999. - The formation of this sanctuary has made Goa the only state in that has completely protected the that are located within its boundaries. - The three highest peaks in Goa are situated in the hill ranges of the sanctuary. - They are Sonsogod (1027 mts), Talavche Sada (812 mts) and Vageri (725 mts). - The Mhadei River, known downstream as the Mandovi River, the lifeline of the state of Goa, originates in , passes through the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and meets the Arabian Sea at in Goa.

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