(Vienna) - The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) are testing the hydrogen-powered train “Coradia iLint” manufactured by Alstom in regular passenger service for ten weeks. The aim is to “gain experience from a technical, operational and economic perspective with alternative drive technology,” says the company. The hydrogen train will be on the Aspangbahn and Thermenbahn from Vienna via Wiener Neustadt to Fehring and on the route between Wiener Neustadt and Puchberg am Schneeberg and Gutenstein until the end of November.
Climate-friendly alternative to diesel trains
“We clearly see ourselves as pioneers in testing hydrogen technology on rail,” emphasizes Andreas Matthä, CEO of ÖBB-Holding AG, on the occasion of the hydrogen train’s premiere journey. “The emission-free drive technology offers a climate-friendly alternative to conventional diesel trains,” explained Jörg Nikutta, spokesman for Alstom’s management in Germany and Austria. With its use in regular ÖBB passenger service, the Coradia iLint has “reached the next milestone”.
ÖBB is supported in this project by the Climate and Energy Fund and Verbund AG, which certifies the hydrogen produced from renewable sources used during the trial operation. Cooperations with Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology and HyCentA ensure that the project is viewed from a scientific perspective.
The train has to prove itself on routes that are not intended for electrification. So far, hydrogen trains have been used primarily in northern Germany and the Netherlands. The test on geographically demanding routes in the south of Lower Austria will now put the railway through its paces for the first time. Around 60 tons of CO₂ could be saved in trial operation alone. In addition, the hydrogen train is significantly quieter in operation than the diesel multiple units that otherwise run on the route.
Mobile hydrogen filling station in Vienna
In addition to its use in passenger service, a mobile hydrogen filling station was also set up on the ÖBB premises in Wiener Neustadt for the duration of the test phase. This allows the complete system, including vehicle maintenance and hydrogen supply, to be tested.
ÖBB wants to be CO2030-neutral in the mobility sector by 2. Various practical projects are being carried out to investigate which alternative drive technology proves to be viable for the future.
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https://www.oebb.at/de/neuigkeiten/wasserstoffzug
Photos (2)
Coradia iLint / © ÖBB
