The world’s first hydrogen-powered passenger train service has begun operations in Germany. The 100% hydrogen-fueled rail line debuted in the small town of Bremervörde, near Hamburg. A total of 14 trains will replace diesel locomotives across nearly 100 kilometers of track in the northern part of the country. In addition to Bremervörde, the regional line serves the cities of Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, and Buxtehude.
The first Coradia iLint model was tested back in 2018, following years of development by French manufacturer Alstom. Although the fleet was initially scheduled to launch in 2021, pandemic-related disruptions likely delayed the plans. In August of this year, the commercial service finally went live.
Hydrogen-Powered Trains
In addition to eliminating pollutant emissions, the new trains offer a range of 1,000 kilometers, meaning they only need to be refueled once a day. Another key advantage is that the town of Bremervörde features a local green hydrogen filling station.
Local residents near the tracks will also benefit from quieter operations and cleaner air, as the Coradia iLint emits only steam and condensed water. The trains are equipped with fuel cells that combine hydrogen stored on board with oxygen from the air to generate electricity, thereby eliminating propulsion-related pollutant emissions.
Decarbonizing Mobility
In many countries, diesel trains remain widely used—there are over 4,000 currently in service in Germany alone. Despite numerous electrification projects across the continent, a significant portion of Europe's rail network is expected to remain non-electrified in the long term. According to Agence France-Presse, this is particularly true for regional and rural lines in Germany, where lower passenger volume does not generate enough revenue to justify the high cost of overhead electrification.
Hydrogen offers a viable alternative for these routes because it requires less infrastructure. While hydrogen stations are starting to appear across Europe, the acquisition cost of the rolling stock remains the primary financial hurdle. Indeed, the new fleet cost €93 million; however, it will prevent the emission of 4,400 metric tons of CO2 annually.
Beyond Germany, Alstom has already secured contracts to supply hydrogen trains to France and Italy. According to the company, the Coradia iLint has also been successfully trialed in several other countries, including Austria, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden.
The Coradia iLint won the 2022 German Sustainability Design Award, which recognizes technical and social solutions that drive sustainable transformation in products, production, consumption, or lifestyles, in alignment with the United Nations 2030 Agenda.
Via CicloVivo.
This article was written by Marcia Sousa. The translation is powered by AI.
