The Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) has officially approved the Coradia iLint hydrogen train that has recently successful completed three months of test operation on the Austrian regional lines.
These important milestones make Austria the second country in Europe, after Germany, to fully approve of the hydrogen train as an emission-free alternative to diesel multiple units.
Alstom once again underlines its world-leading position in hydrogen mobility by rail as currently no other train manufacturer can offer a proven, tested hydrogen train ready for series production.
“We are immensely proud to confirm that the Coradia iLint has proven that it is suitable for all service routes – even on steep sections its performance is convincing. Not to mention our pride in the fact that the train has now received official approval in Austria. I also congratulate OBB for being a pioneer in testing hydrogen technology on rail in Austria,” Gian Luca Erbacci, Senior Vice President of Alstom Europe, said.
During the three months of testing on four demanding routes in southern Lower Austria, Vienna and eastern Styria, ÖBB and its passengers witnessed operability and performance of the new drive technology based on fuel cells – even on steep track sections and under the most varied climatic conditions.
The train run in the southern part of Lower Austria and on the railway network of the inner and outer of Aspangbahn, in Vienna, as well as on the route between Wiener Neustadt and Puchberg, 80 km far from Vienna, or Gutenstein.
ÖBB is very positive about the Coradia iLint hydrogen train and the test run. Following the successful operation in Austria, the data collected will now be analysed to further perfect the technology for the context.
In 2016, Alstom has unveiled world’s first hydrogen train that is currently in operation in Germany, where it has completed 1 year and a half trial operation, covering more than 180,000 driven kilometres. The train has been successfully tested in the Neherlands, France intends to adopt the new train concept while the manufacturer is investing for the development of the Breeze hydrogen train for the Britain market. Recently, Alstom and Ferrovie Nord Milano signed a contract for the delivery of six hydrogen trains.
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