The Swiss train set a record of running 2,803km on hydrogen

A passenger train using hydrogen fuel cells from railway vehicle manufacturer Stadler Rail set a Guinness World Record by running continuously for nearly two days over 2,803 km.

The Flirt H2 set a record for the longest distance achieved by a hydrogen-powered vessel without refueling or recharging. (Video: Stadler Rail AG)

Efforts to replace fossil fuel trains are ongoing as countries invest heavily in electrifying rail networks around the world as well as deploying battery-powered trains such as the FLXDrive, Blues and Flirt Akku. The closest example comes from Stadler Rail AG. The company previously set a 2021 Guinness World Record for the longest battery-powered journey on a single charge of 224 km on a route between Berlin and Warnemünde during the cold local winter. That's not a bad achievement for a ship designed with a range of 80 km on a single charge.

Not every rail network can support electrification, and overhead battery range is not sufficient for long-distance passenger and freight transport. Therefore, hydrogen fuel cells become the perfect choice, allowing to extend travel distance while only emitting steam and water.

The vehicle uses two motorized tractors with a hydrogen tank and fuel cell placed in the middle.

Stadler first introduced the Flirt H2 passenger train version at the 2022 InnoTrans event in Berlin, and began testing in Switzerland. The train is designed to replace diesel trains on rail networks that cannot be electrified or are only partially electrified. The vehicle uses two motorized tractors with a hydrogen tank and fuel cell placed in the middle. The fuel cell feeds energy into the onboard battery pack, providing power to the electric motor.

Originally built for the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority in California, the San Bernardino has a top speed of 127 km/h and a range of 460 km per fuel stop. However, that range specification was broken at the ENSCO test track in Pueblo, Colorado, putting the Stadler in the record books again.

On the evening of March 20, Flirt H2 started its first run on the track. Engineers then took turns controlling for more than 46 hours, the train stopped when it was running 2,803 km/h with only one tank of hydrogen, New Atlas reported on March 27. This is the world record for the longest distance covered by a hydrogen-powered passenger train without refueling or recharging. According to Ansgar Brockmeyer, representative of Stadler, the new record sets the ideal range for the hydrogen version of the Flirt H2.

In addition to the confirmed order in California, Stadler revealed that two Italian railway operators have signed contracts with them to supply 15 hydrogen-powered trains.