Alstom’s Coradia iLint, the world’s first hydrogen trains, have successfully completed trail operation, paving way for the next project phase. The successful trial operation was officially completed at the end of February this year after 530 days and more than 180,000 driven kilometres. Two pre-series trains have been in passenger service in Lower Saxony, Germany since September 2018.
From 2022, Alstom will deliver 14 Coradia iLint series trains based on a contract signed with the local transport authority of Lower Saxony (LNVG) to replace the existing diesel multiple units. This project showcases the importance of green mobility for the state of Lower Saxony. Alstom will manufacture the trains for LNVG at its site in Salzgitter, Germany. The contract also includes 30 years of maintenance and energy supply for the vehicles. The gases and engineering company Linde will build and operate a hydrogen filling station for the hydrogen trains near Bremervörde station.
“Our two pre-series trains of the Coradia iLint have proven over the past year and a half that fuel cell technology can be used successfully in daily passenger service. This makes us an important driving force on the way to emission-free and sustainable mobility in rail transport,” said Jörg Nikutta, Managing Director for Germany and Austria of Alstom Transport Deutschland GmbH. “We have also obtained valuable data from the trial operation of the fuel cell trains for the further development of the propulsion technology.”
“We are proud that we were the first railway company in the world to be allowed to operate the first two fuel cell trains on the Weser-Elbe network. From the very beginning, our passengers were very curious about the trains and their new propulsion technology. Besides its very low noise level, the hydrogen train was able to score with its emission-free operation, especially in times of climate change. The operation of the iLint was a very special motivation for our train drivers,” said Andreas Wagner, head of the SPNV division and authorized signatory of the Eisenbahnen und Verkehrsbetriebe Elbe-Weser GmbH.
“With the successfully completed trial operation, the requirements for continuous operation of the hydrogen trains from 2022 are fulfilled. LNVG thus contributes to the implementation of sustainable, innovative and ecological mobility solutions, especially in rural areas,” said Carmen Schwabl, Managing Director of LNVG.
About the Coradia iLint
Coradia iLint is the world’s first hydrogen-powered passenger train. A hydrogen fuel cell generates the electrical energy for propulsion and powering of the on-board equipment. Lithium-ion batteries store part of the extra energy produced by the fuel cell as well as kinetic energy recovered during braking. The iLint is CO2-emission-free and emits low noise levels, water vapor and condensed water. The iLint train features different innovative elements: clean energy conversion, flexible energy storage in batteries, and smart management of traction power and available energy. Specifically designed for operation on non-electrified lines, it enables clean, sustainable train operation while ensuring high levels of performance.
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