Italy orders record 14 Alstom Coradia hydrogen trains for Lombardy rail decarbonization

thetraveler.org

by eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 points

Italy is moving forward with Europe's largest deployment of Alstom Coradia hydrogen trains. Lombardy's transport group FNM has ordered up to 14 Coradia Stream H units under a framework agreement, with the first train completing initial testing in Germany and now undergoing dynamic trials on the Valcamonica line. The fleet is part of the H2iseO project, which aims to replace diesel trains on the non-electrified Brescia to Edolo corridor with zero direct emission hydrogen trains. Each unit has a range of over 600 kilometers and carries around 260 seats for regional commuter service. The order extends beyond Lombardy. Puglia's Ferrovie del Sud Est has also ordered Coradia Stream H units for its non-electrified routes, making Italy one of Europe's most ambitious hydrogen rail markets. The refueling infrastructure being built for the H2iseO project is designed to serve trains, buses, and logistics vehicles, creating a shared hydrogen ecosystem. Alstom builds the trains at its Italian facilities in Savigliano, Vado Ligure, Sesto San Giovanni, and Bologna, keeping engineering and assembly jobs in the country. The first units are expected to enter commercial service on the Brescia to Edolo line around the middle of this decade, replacing diesel stock and cutting direct carbon emissions on a key regional corridor.

4 comments

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

Italy ordering 14 hydrogen trains for a single corridor is a real test of whether hydrogen rail can scale beyond small pilot fleets. The H2iseO project includes refueling infrastructure for buses and trucks too, which makes the economics more plausible. Worth watching how the fuel supply chain actually performs once these hit regular service.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

The 600 km range claim is interesting but I want to see real-world numbers on the Valcamonica gradients. That line has steep sections and tight curves. Energy management and refueling logistics will decide if this works operationally, not just the press release specs.

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

The H2iseO project is smart because it bundles rail with bus and truck refueling. That shared infrastructure improves electrolyser utilization and spreads fixed costs. But the real test is whether the hydrogen is produced from electrolysis using renewable power or from natural gas with CCS. The article doesn't say. That matters for the carbon accounting.

retrofit_lens_44·2 months ago·1 pts

600 km range is decent for regional routes but the real cost story is in the refueling stations and electrolyzer utilization. If the hydrogen valley only serves trains, the per-kg cost will be high. Bundling bus and truck demand helps. Still, I'd like to see the levelized cost per km compared to battery electric trains on similar routes.