Hydrogen trains: Alstom and Engie join forces

Objective: decarbonize rail freight by replacing diesel locomotives with hydrogen-powered models.

Alstom still firmly believes in the potential of fuel cells. The multinational has just signed a partnership with Engie to develop renewable hydrogen in the rail freight sector in Europe.

Alstom is working on the development of high-power fuel cells, which will be used on non-electrified sections. Consequently, the locomotives will also be able to operate like their electric counterparts on catenary-equipped routes.

Engie in charge of supply chain management

On its side, Engie is developing an innovative logistics chain for supplying renewable hydrogen. The company is well acquainted with Alstom, which had already approached it for another hydrogen train project.

“This partnership will provide a decarbonized and zero-emission solution in response to climate, environmental, and public health challenges, including on secondary lines and non-electrified branch lines. The target market is that of major European rail freight countries,” explain the two partners.

Alstom and the hydrogen train, a story begun in 2013

This announcement shows that Alstom’s interest in hydrogen remains strong. The French company began its research in this field in 2013. It has already developed a hydrogen regional train: the Coradia iLint. Designed to operate on non-electrified lines, it is already running in Germany, where two train sets entered service in 2018.

Moreover, Alstom has received 41 orders from two German states. In France, SNCF ordered 12 hybrid train sets (electric traction via catenary plus hydrogen), which will be used by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Grand Est, and Occitanie regions.

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