Stadler Rail has been awarded two framework agreements to supply and maintain ten hydrogen-powered trains for Azienda Regionale Sarda Trasporti (ARST) in Sardinia and 15 similar trains for Ferrovie della Calabria (FdC) in Calabria.
The trains will be the first narrow-gauge hydrogen trains in the world, and will be powered by a hydrogen fuel cell system that produces electricity without emissions. The trains will be able to travel up to 100 kilometres per hour and will have a range of up to 800 kilometres on a single tank of hydrogen.
The deal will also see Stadler delivering hydrogen trains to Europe for the first time and the second time ever in the world after delivering the FLIRT H2 to North America earlier this year.
The contract is worth an estimated €200 million, and the trains are scheduled to be delivered in 2026.
It is planned that they will be running on ecological fuel-cells and hydrogen propulsion along the 950mm narrow gauge track in the region.
Ansgar Brockmeyer, Stadler’s executive vice president marketing and sales said: “Stadler enjoys a long and innovative partnership with ARST and FdC. We are proud to be working together to drive forward the decarbonisation of rail transport in Italy. The new narrow-gauge trains with hydrogen propulsion are a world premiere and will pioneer sustainable rail transport on narrow-gauge lines worldwide.
We would like to thank ARST and FdC for their trust in us and look forward to expanding our partnership even further in the future.”
The vehicles consist of two passenger cars and will be built with lightweight aluminium which will help the train’s energy efficiency, alongside a power pack at the back of the train which will house the fuel cells, hydrogen tanks and other technical equipment.
The delivery of the hydrogen trains is a major step forward for the decarbonization of rail transport in Italy. The Italian government has set a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 and it is expected that the delivery of the hydrogen trains will help Italy meet the target.
The hydrogen trains will be used on a variety of routes in Sardinia and Calabria, including regional and intercity services.
Photo Credit: Stadler
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