10,000 km route including the Pyrenees

The first hydrogen train operating on the railway networks of Spain and Portugal has just successfully completed its testing phase.

More than 10,000 kilometers covered. FCH2Rail is the first hydrogen hybrid train to receive approval from Adif for testing on the Spanish rail network.

Developed by a consortium that includes Basque manufacturer CAF and companies such as DLR, Toyota, Renfe, Adif, CNH2, IP and StemmannTechnik, the train has traveled more than 10,000 kilometers in hydrogen mode.

Zaragoza-Canfranc became a litmus test. The hydrogen train has undergone such difficult tests as the Zaragoza-Canfranc route in the Pyrenees. The ride, which included steep ramps, demonstrated the train’s reliability under more strenuous conditions.

The train also traveled from Spain to Portugal during its stay in Galicia to evaluate the technology on various railway networks.

Renfe commuter train with hydrogen fuel cell. For this project, a commuter train provided by Renfe was converted into a Fuel Cell Hybrid PowerPack.

It is the first hydrogen railway demonstrator in the Iberian Peninsula (not in Europe), and has been undergoing tests on closed and open tracks since 2022, when static tests were completed. Successful completion of the trials will determine which technology is most suitable for different railway lines.

Previous failure in Germany. The German state of Lower Saxony has canceled a hydrogen hybrid train project due to cost concerns. The state-owned company LVNG took out a calculator and came to the conclusion that battery electric trains or electrification of infrastructure are more profitable.

In Spain, the FCH2Rail consortium is in talks with European committees to promote the regulation and standardization of hydrogen technology on the rail network as a viable alternative to diesel trains.

Image | Adif

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