Hydrogen fuel cell trains are on the fast track

The green economy is ever evolving, and changing how we approach passenger transportation is part of that evolution. We have seen electric city buses and hybrid passenger vehicles gain increasing popularity, but what about railways? 

Passenger train manufacturers are looking to hydrogen fuel cells, and to Cummins, to provide zero-emissions power for railways all around the world. French railway manufacturer Alstom is a world leader in green and smart mobility and is among the first to develop hydrogen fuel cell-powered passenger trains. It has introduced the world's first passenger hydrail*, the Coradia iLint, which is making its latest stop in Poland. 

The Coradia iLint is powered by Cummins fuel cell modules that run on hydrogen. These modules are designed to turn existing, non-electrified infrastructure into zero-emission rail lines. After an initial test demonstration in Germany in 2017 that covered more than 180,000 km, the Coradia iLint has run demonstrations throughout Austria, Netherlands and France. It has been in successful commercial service since 2018. In 2021, the Coradia iLint in Germany earned the European Railway Award as the first hydrogen passenger train in mainline operation.

Most recently, the hydrail made its debut on the Railway Research Institute's test track in Żmigród, near Wrocław in Poland. Alstom teams presented the hydrail to a variety of local stakeholders, including regional operators, transport authorities, government decision-makers and leading media. Alstom highlighted the potential of the Coradia iLint as a viable, sustainable transport system in Poland. The showcase followed the announcement of Poland’s National Recovery Plan, which includes provisions for the introduction of 30 low-emission trains for Polish regional operators by 2026.

With Cummins as a key partner in the development and implementation of hydrogen fuel cell systems for Alstom's Coradia iLint, we’re demonstrating our ability to provide customers with the right solutions at the right time. 

*Hydrail: the generic term used to describe any rail vehicle, regardless of size, powered by hydrogen technology