Austria launches hydrogen train into passenger service on challenging alpine routes

Photo: Max Wegscheider, ÖBB

Vienna, Austria (Urban Transport News): Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) on 11th September 2020 launched a three-month-long passenger trial run of a hydrogen train to explore technological alternatives to reduce transport emissions in the capital city. Alstom-built Coradia iLint, which runs on a hydrogen fuel cell, is being used in the passenger trial.

According to Alstom, the Coradia iLint uses onboard fuel cells to convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, thus reducing operating emissions to zero.

Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) is expected to test the Hydrogen Train on regional railway lines in the southern part of Austria to assess its effectiveness as a potential replacement of diesel trains.

Andreas Matthä, CEO at ÖBB-Holding AG, said:

We clearly see ourselves as pioneers in testing hydrogen technology on the rail. As the largest climate protection company in Austria, we are actively shaping the mobility of the future with technological alternatives.

After the successful trial run in Northern Germany between 2018 and 2020, the Coradia iLint Hydrogen train will now demonstrate its worth in Austria over three months during which it will transport passengers on geographically challenging routes.

Dr. Jörg Nikutta, Alstom's CEO in Germany and Austria, at the launch event in Vienna, said:

With its use in regular passenger operations for ÖBB, our innovation train Coradia iLint has reached the next milestone. The train’s emission-free drive technology offers a climate-friendly alternative to conventional diesel trains, especially on non-electrified lines. I am particularly pleased that ÖBB, a strong and long-term partner in the European mobility market, is convinced of our technology and its advantages.

The trial test run of Coradia iLint started in September 2018, when two pre-series vehicles began regular passenger service in Lower Saxony, Germany. After 1.5 years of trial operation and more than 180,000 kilometres covered, the way was cleared for the delivery of 14 series trains beginning in 2022.