The FCH2RAIL consortium has completed testing of the first hydrogen-powered train in Portugal.
From April 3-6, the locomotive travelled on the Minho Line, between the Valença and Nine stations, reaching over 8,500km in hydrogen mode when grouped with its previous testing in Spain last year (2023).
Following the test programme, FCH2RAIL has obtained the authorisation to run the train demonstrator in a second European country.
© FCH2RAIL
H2 View understands that major automotive company Stellantis supported the test project, allowing FCH2RAIL to use its Porriño facility, located on the Spanish-Portuguese border, to refuel the locomotive. Medway provided train drivers for the programme, whilst Iberdrola supplied the green hydrogen.
Infraestruturas de Portugal issued the Special Circulation Authorisation last December (2023) and established conditions for the train’s operation on the Portuguese rail network during the testing phase.
FCH2RAIL kicked off initial testing of its demonstrator project in 2022, after CAF announced it would begin dynamic testing of the train on an external track. The results allowed the consortium to evaluate the competitiveness of hydrogen technology in its pursuit of decarbonising railways.
Read more:Hydrogen-powered train testing kicks off on external track
Hydrogen rail development in Europe
Much noise has been made about hydrogen rail transport in recent months. With Europe leading the charge for the use case, media reports have cited various teething issues in the regions, while others have written off its potential altogether.
While large sums of money are being put towards trialling and commercially running hydrogen-powered trains to cover the gap in cost compared with conventional trains in the union, the application, as with any emerging technology, appears to be facing some challenges.
Europe is no stranger to rail. With over 200,000km of railway across the bloc in 20201, the transportation method continues to play a key role in the continent. In 2020, passengers travelled approximately 378 billion passenger kilometres, making it the second-largest market for rail passenger traffic globally2, according to Statista.
Seen as the most sustainable form of land transport, representing less than 0.5% of total EU carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, railway operators and train manufacturers are eyeing hydrogen as a means to further decarbonise transport.
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