10,000 km of route, including the Pyrenees

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

More than 10,000 kilometers traveled. FCH2Rail is the first hydrogen hybrid train that obtained authorization from Adif to circulate in tests on the Spanish railway network.

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

Zaragoza-Canfranc has been the litmus test. The hydrogen train has passed such demanding tests as the Zaragoza-Canfranc route, in the Pyrenees. The journey, which includes steep ramps, served to demonstrate the train’s reliability in more intense conditions.

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

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

It is the first hydrogen railway demonstrator in the Iberian Peninsula (not in Europe) and has been tested on closed and open tracks since 2022, when it completed its static tests. The successful completion of the tests will serve to determine which technology is most convenient on different railway lines.

The previous failure in Germany. The German state of Lower Saxony canceled its hydrogen hybrid train project due to cost issues. The state company LVNG took out the calculator and came to the conclusion that battery electric trains or electrifying the infrastructure were more profitable.

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

Image | Adif

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