The unmodified Coradia iLint production train has traveled 1,175 kilometers without refueling its hydrogen tank, emitting only water and operating with very low noise levels, Alstom has announced. Romania is also interested in hydrogen trains and will apply for the purchase of 12 units.
About the record-setting Alstom train
The Alstom vehicle used for this journey comes from the fleet owned by the Lower Saxony transport authority LNVG and has been regularly transporting passengers on the evb (Eisenbahnen und Verkehrsbetriebe Elbe-Weser GmbH) network since mid-August. Alstom also collaborated with the gas and engineering company Linde for this project.
In the evb network, the train moves at a speed of 80 to 120 km/h, the maximum speed is 140 km/h.
In addition to the contract with LNVG for 14 Coradia iLint trains for operation in Lower Saxony, Alstom has received an order for 27 Coradia iLint trains for use in the Frankfurt metropolitan area. Outside of Germany, Alstom is building six Coradia Stream hydrogen trains in Italy’s Lombardy region, with an additional option for eight more vehicles confirmed.
Coradia iLint was developed by Alstom teams in Salzgitter (Germany) and Tarbes (France). The project is supported by the German government.
The Coradia iLint was introduced in 2016 and Alstom says it is the world’s first passenger train to run on hydrogen fuel cells that generate electricity for propulsion. This train emits only water vapor.
Pros and cons of hydrogen trains
Hydrogen trains are presented as a “green” alternative to diesel trains and can be a solution on non-electrified lines. In addition, they have several times more autonomy than battery trains. Germany, Holland, Italy, Austria, Great Britain, Poland and Sweden are the European countries most interested in this technology.
The disadvantages of hydrogen trains are related to the high cost, the fact that hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels and requires a lot of storage space. The construction of supply infrastructure is also required, and hydrogen is not suitable for high-speed trains, but for those that develop a maximum of 120-140 km/h.
Those who support hydrogen trains in Romania say that they would be very suitable for a network like ours, where 60% of the lines are not electrified. Opponents say this is the last thing we need, but the first priority will be to remove speed limits.
Source: Hot News RO
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