On 24th August 2022 Germany inaugurated the world’s first hydrogen-powered train fleet, this initiative by the German Government is to open the door for more environmentally friendly travel. These new locomotives are to replace a diesel fleet.
About
This new fleet was made by the French company Alstom and operated by a regional rail company Lower Saxony Transport Authority (LNVG) consisting of 14 Coradia iLint Hydrogen trains.
Key Points:
- The Hydrogen-powered train makes the vehicles much cleaner than the diesel-powered predecessors.
Lower Saxony has invested USD 92 million in this project, in order to make its economy greener. - Per year 422,000 gallons of diesel fuel will be saved if the trains run on hydrogen-power.
- The benefit of the new fleet is to cut off 22 pounds of CO2 emissions, which are caused by a gallon of burned diesel fuel. Per year 460 tons CO2 will be reduced.
Train Construction
- The hydrogen-powered train fleet will normally operate between 50 – 75 mph, and can travel at speeds of up to 87 mph for a range of 621 miles (1,000 Km). Per tank of hydrogen, each train fleet can run for an entire day.
- The Hydrogen filling station was already established along with the route construction, between the towns of Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Bremervérde and Buxtehude.
- The Government of Germany, Frankfurt have ordered 27 locomotives for the use of the metropolitan area since Lower Saxony would not have the only hydrogen fleet for much longer.
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