France just ordered 12 electric hydrogen trains
It s a historic step towards sustainability.
Image credits: Alstom.
Rail transport has traditionally been the most environmentally friendly way to travel, having far lower greenhouse gas emissions per kilometer than cars or planes. But this doesn’t mean there’s no room for improvement.
In the early 2000s, hydrogen trains gathered some attention, but they seemed to be decades away from actually becoming a reality
seemed being the key word.
The first mini-hydrogen train was piloted in Taiwan in 2007. Fast forward to 2019, and the US had already announced the production of its first hydrogen train, set to hit the rails in 2024. But Europe has moved even faster.
“France has everything it needs to become a hydrogen champion: the French government is fully committed to turning this ambition into reality,” said Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, Minister Delegate for Transport, French Ministry of the Ecological Transition. “We will be covering €47m of development costs for France’s first regional hydrogen-powered train. I am delighted that this support has enabled the four partner regions to confirm their order for the first 14 trains.”
According to Alstom, the dual mode electric-hydrogen Coradia Polyvalent train meets the requirements of the French rail network and can operate for up to 600km on sections of non-electrified railway. The four-car, 72m-long train has a total capacity of 218 passengers and the same performance and level of comfort as the dual mode electric-diesel version.
On behalf of four French Regions, SNCF Voyageurs has placed an order with Alstom for the delivery of the first hydrogen trains for France.
Credit: Alstom
The French regions of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Grand Est and Occitanie have signed the very first order of dual mode electric-hydrogen trains in France. This marks a historic step in rail transport’s reduction in CO
2 emissions for the benefit of passengers and regions and in the development of a hydrogen ecosystem, as well as a promising sector for the future.
Acting on behalf of the four regions, SNCF Voyageurs has placed an order with Alstom for the first 12 dual mode electric-hydrogen trains (plus two optional trainsets) in the Coradia Polyvalent range for Régiolis, developed by Alstom. The contract is worth a total of almost €190 million euros.
€190m order to bring hydrogen trains to regions in France
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What is believed to be the first order of dual mode electric-hydrogen trains has been made today (8
th April) for the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Grand Est and Occitanie regions of France.
Acting on behalf of the four individual regions, SNCF Voyageurs has placed an order with train manufacturer Alstom for the first 12 dual mode electric-hydrogen trains (plus a further two optional trainsets) in the Coradia Polyvant range for Régiolis.
The order, worth a total of almost €190m ($225m), represents a significant step in rail transport’s reduction of CO2 emissions for the benefit of passengers and regions and in the development of a hydrogen ecosystem.
8 April 2021 (Last Updated April 8th, 2021 15:36)
France’s SNCF Voyageurs has placed an order with Alstom for first 12 dual-mode electric-hydrogen trains in the Coradia Polyvalent range for Régiolis.
Coradia Polyvalent Hydrogen Train. Credit: Alstom Design&Styling.
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France’s SNCF Voyageurs has placed an order with Alstom for first 12 dual-mode electric-hydrogen trains in the Coradia Polyvalent range for Régiolis.
The €190m order also includes an option of two additional trainsets.
SNCF Voyageurs, which manages all SNCF passenger rail transport in France and Europe, placed the order on behalf of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Grand Est and Occitanie regions.
The contract also marks the first order of hydrogen trains in France.