Korea Railroad Corporation (KoRail) has launched a research and development (R&D) project aimed at paving the way for the commercialisation of hydrogen-electric train fleets. A full-scale demonstration of the project was initiated at the company’s Daejeon office building in Busan.
The event was attended by the President of KoRail, Han Moon Hee, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Sangwoo Park, as well as other representatives from KoRail and professors from Korea Transport University.
This demonstration project is being led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Agency for Infrastructure Technology Advancement (KAIA), with participation from industry, academia and research institutes. Its goal is to establish a technological and institutional foundation for the commercialisation of hydrogen-electric vehicles by 2028.
Under the project, hydrogen-related infrastructure will be installed on existing rail lines, and trial operations will be carried out using distributed hydrogen-electric trains, primarily intended for medium-distance transport services.
KoRail will oversee the project, supported by six organisations including Korea Transport University and Woojin Industrial Systems. These organisations will undertake tasks across various domains, including train manufacturing and design, performance verification, the construction of hydrogen refuelling stations and inspection facilities, as well as the revision of relevant systems and regulations.
The project requires a total investment of KRW 32.1 billion (USD 23 million) for the development of the pilot scheme by the end of 2027. Of this, KRW 20 billion (USD 14.1 million) will be provided by the South Korean Government, with KRW 12.1 billion (USD 8.5 million) coming from both public and private sectors.
The investment will fund the construction of a two-car hydrogen-electric train equipped with hydrogen fuel cells, capable of delivering a maximum power output of 1.2 MW.
The train will have a maximum operating speed of 150 km/h and a range of up to 600 km on a single charge. It is expected to replace existing diesel locomotives on the Gyeongwon Line with a two-car trainset.
Additionally, KoRail will build hydrogen refuelling facilities for both hydrogen trains and buses. The final site for the hydrogen refuelling station will be selected by the end of this year, taking into account local government support.
The project is being led by Korea Railroad Corporation (KoRail), with the goal of early commercialisation of an environmentally friendly hydrogen train, supported by key technologies developed through national R&D initiatives in 2022.
“Hydrogen trains are emerging as eco-friendly vehicles that generate electricity via fuel cells using onboard hydrogen storage to power electric motors. As this internal power supply system does not require external power lines, it can significantly enhance rail accessibility by enabling operations on non-electrified railways,” the Ministry of Transport stated
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