Inspenet, 08 de agosto 2023.
The state of Lower Saxony in Germany is shifting its focus from hydrogen fuel cell trains to battery electric trains and the local transport authority has announced plans to operate 102 battery electric trains from 2029.
Changes in the train network
Lower Saxony’s state transport company LNVG announced in late July that it will commit exclusively to battery electric trains, after determining they are a “more cost-effective” option than hydrogen fuel cell-based alternatives.
LNVG had already started trials with hydrogen fuel cell trains and a year ago began operating 14 Alstom Coradia iLint hydrogen fuel cell trains on passenger routes in Lower Saxony.
The hydrogen trains, said to be a “world first”, relied on a daily supply of hydrogen from the Linde filling station, with each train able to cover 1,000 kilometres. At least two pre-series Alstom Coradia iLint trains had been in operation on the line since September 2018.
After extensive analysis, LNVG opted to scrap its plans to use hydrogen in favor of implementing battery electric trains. Starting in 2029, the LNVG network will start incorporating 102 new battery electric trains.
LNVG concluded that electric trains, which can be recharged using pantograph systems along the tracks or on so-called “charging islands” to avoid the need for overhead contact wires, are more cost effective than alternatives. based on hydrogen or diesel.
LNVG’s goal is to have diesel trains removed from the tracks by 2037. Battery-powered options to be operated on the LNVG rail network include Alstom Coradia Stream units, which can reach speeds of up to 200 km/h and can run on non-electrified sections of track using batteries .
In early 2021, Alstom and LNVG signed an agreement for the acquisition of 34 Coradia Stream high-capacity double-decker EMU trains, which are expected to be in operation by the end of 2024.
Source and photo: https://thedriven.io/2023/08/07/german-state-ditches-world-first-hydrogen-train-network-for-cheaper-electric/
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