Italian railway operator Ferrovie della Calabria (FdC) has doubled down on its commitment to hydrogen-powered transport, ordering three additional narrow-gauge hydrogen trains from Stadler.
This latest deal brings the total number of Stadler-built hydrogen trains in FdC's fleet to nine, solidifying their support for hydrogen-powered rail.
"These additional trains ordered from Stadler, with whom we have had a fruitful cooperation for years, are a further investment towards the company's ongoing modernisation," declared Ernesto Ferraro, CEO of FdC.
"The purchase of a further three hydrogen-powered trains, in addition to the six already commissioned, and the other investments underway, including those for modernising and speeding up the railway infrastructure, renewing the rolling stock on the road, building the hydrogen production plant, and innovating the company's technology and infrastructure, represent the concrete implementation of the company's strategies launched with the ambition to become a modern and sustainable transport company within the next three years.”
This expansion of FdC's hydrogen fleet is part of a larger €400 million ecological transition project, aimed at transforming the company into a regional transport leader. The trains typically consist of two cars and a power pack. To improve energy efficiency, the trains have lightweight aluminium structures.
Aristide Vercillo Martino, FdC's investment manager commented: “The project launched in recent years as part of the ecological transition, with a project to use hydrogen as a new fuel for its means of transport, and a total investment of more than 400 million euro, confirms the company's desire to become a leader in regional transport and to provide more services to users, with innovative processes and in line with the objectives that a modern company must set itself.”
Stadler, the world's first manufacturer of narrow-gauge hydrogen trains, expressed their pride in this ongoing partnership. "We are very proud that FdC has once again commissioned Stadler to supply additional trains," stated Ansgar Brockmeyer, Stadler's executive vice president of Marketing & Sales.
"In partnership with FdC, we are driving forward the decarbonisation of rail transport in Italy. The new narrow-gauge hydrogen trains are a world first and pave the way to sustainable rail transport on narrow-gauge lines worldwide”, he added.
Photos: Stadler
