World’s First Hydrogen-Powered Passenger Train Hits The Rails In Austria
The title of this post is the same as that of this article on Silicon Republic.
This is the first paragraph.
This week in future tech, an Alstom hydrogen-powered train will start taking passengers in Austria for the first time.
But for the covids, I’d be on my way tomorrow to do a bit of advanced-level trainspotting.
Alstom’s press release is at https://www.alstom.com/press-releases-news/2020/9/alstoms-hydrogen-train-enters-regular-passenger-service-austria I’ve not been able to find out exactly which routes it will run on, but from talk of challenging routes in the south, probably some of the branch lines in Carinthia. https://infrastruktur.oebb.at/de/geschaeftspartner/schienennetz/dokumente-und-daten/netzkarten/karte-oebb-netz.pdf (large file) shows which routes are unelectrified. The government announced in 2018 that they would electrify all Austria’s rail lines by 2030, so it’s a bit surprising they’re going with hydrogen, given the infrastructure expense for what would be comparatively short-term.
Comment by Peter Robins | September 13, 2020 |
An e-Friend in Austria has just sent me the details. Posting now.
Comment by AnonW | September 13, 2020 |
so partly the same lines as the Cityjet Eco earlier in the year. I see those are being tested on the Bad Radkersburg line in Styria in Nov/Dec.
Comment by Peter Robins | September 13, 2020 |
I think the Austrians are being very professional with both the testing and the publicity. Austrian Railways seem to have a good understanding of the latter.
Comment by AnonW | September 13, 2020 |