Austria’s ÖBB completes three-month hydrogen train passenger trials

Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) has completed a three-month-long passenger trial of Alstom’s Coradia iLint hydrogen fuel cell train on regional lines.

This comes after Austria became the second country in Europe, after Germany, to approve Coradia iLint as a sustainable alternative to diesel multiple units.

The vehicle has secured official approval from the country’s highest railway authority, the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK).

The testing of the vehicle began in September. In the last three months, the vehicle operated on four routes in southern Lower Austria, Vienna and eastern Styria.

According to Alstom, ÖBB is very positive about the hydrogen train and the test run.

The procured data is currently being assessed to further improve the technology.

Alstom Europe senior vice-president Gian Luca Erbacci said: “We are immensely proud to confirm that the Coradia iLint has proven that it is suitable for all service routes – even on steep sections its performance is convincing.

“Not to mention our pride in the fact that the train has now received official approval in Austria. I also congratulate OBB for being a pioneer in testing hydrogen technology on railways in Austria.”

Separately, Alstom announced that it has received all necessary regulatory approvals to complete the acquisition of Bombardier Transportation.

The acquisition is now expected to close on 29 January next year.

The company notably signed a sale and purchase agreement in September to acquire Bombardier’s rail division with revised price terms.