Alstom’s Coradia iLint hydrogen fuel cell train has completed a world-record 1,000 km non-stop journey across Germany and Austria on a single hydrogen tank, demonstrating the commercial viability of zero-emission rail travel on non-electrified routes. The journey from Hamburg to Vienna took approximately 8 hours at average speeds of 140 km/h.
The iLint, which entered commercial service in Lower Saxony in 2022, generates electricity from hydrogen through fuel cells, with water vapor being the only emission. This makes it ideal for replacing diesel trains on non-electrified rural and regional routes, which still account for over 35% of the European rail network.
Alstom has received orders for 60 iLint trains from Germany, France, and Italy, with production taking place at its Salzgitter plant. The company is also developing a longer-range version with a 1,400 km range for use on mainline intercity routes.
