The world's first all-hydrogen railway

14 hydrogen-powered trains with a maximum speed of 140km/h have begun operating on a nearly 100km railway connecting cities.

Hydrogen-powered trains discharge only steam and condensate through the exhaust.

Germany became the first country in the world to open an all-hydrogen railway on August 24, marking an important step forward in the field of green rail transport. Specifically, 14 trains manufactured by French company Alstom will replace diesel locomotives on the 97km railway line connecting the cities of Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Bremervoerde and Buxtehude near Hamburg. The railway aims to reduce about 8 tons of CO2 emissions per year.

1kg of hydrogen fuel can perform similarly to about 4.5kg of diesel. Hydrogen trains produce no emissions and have little noise, with only steam and condensate escaping from the exhaust. They have a range of 1,000km, meaning they can run all day on just one hydrogen tank. A hydrogen refueling station has also been built along the route. Trains can run at a maximum speed of 140km/h, but the usual speed will be lower, around 80-120km/h.

"Emission-free mobility is one of the most important goals to ensure a sustainable future, and Alstom aims to be the world leader in alternative propulsion systems for rail. We are proud to bring this technology to life at the launch with our amazing partners," said Henri Poupart-Lafarge, CEO and chairman of the board of directors of Alstom.

Commercial tests with the Coradia iLint, a vessel manufactured by Alstom, have been carried out since 2018. The company has contracted to manufacture the vessel in Germany, France and Italy. In addition, Alstom also started targeting the UK market.

About half of the regional trains (trains that travel between cities and towns) in Europe run on diesel, with many others running on electricity. However, that could soon change. "By 2035, about 15 to 20 percent of regional trains in Europe could run on hydrogen," said Alexandre Charpentier, a rail expert at consulting firm Roland Berger.