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Alstom signed Letter of Intents with Landers of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg, and the Public Transportation Authorities of Hesse, for the use of a new generation of emission-free train equipped with fuel cell drive. The German Federal Ministry of Transportation intends to support the development of the train. Two prototypes will be tested in 2018. (Photo: Alstom)
Alstom to promote fuel cell trains
Published: Mon, 2015-03-23 09:48-
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Develops 40 fuel cell- powered trains
Between Alstom Transport and the municipality of Calw in the German Land of Baden-Württemberg a letter of intent was signed on March 19. The goal is to promote operations of the emission-free fuel cell trainsets on the so-called Hermann- Hesse line starting 2018.
Barred to revenue-earning traffic in 1988, the Calw – Weil der Stadt route shall be reopened for passenger trains in 2018 and will serve as one of the proving grounds for Alstom’s fuel cell multiple-unit technology.
This is intended to enhance rail’s environmental qualifications by eliminating harmful emissions and significantly reducing noise. Calw lies in the northern part of the Schwarzwald region, and the reopened line is seen as having considerable tourism potential.
Alstom expects to have 40 fuel cell-powered regional trains in commercial service on regional lines in Germany by 2020 under an accord signed at the InnoTrans trade show last year in Berlin. Two prototype modified Coradia trains are to be developed by the end of 2018 for revenue service trials.
The powertrain will use hydrogen fuel cells, batteries and energy storage systems to substitute a roof-mounted diesel powerpack, giving equivalent performance to an electric multiple-unit. While the fuel cells will feature ‘proven technology’ already deployed in the automotive sector, Alstom will deliver the software, control and energy storage equipment.
Source: Alstom
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