06/01/2025
Germany officially launched the world’s first passenger rail line powered entirely by hydrogen
They run 621 miles on a single tank and only emit water v***r. This saves over 4,000 tons of CO₂ a year.
They started operating in 2022. Developed by French company Alstom, the trains use hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity, emitting only steam and water v***r.
The Coradia iLint trains can travel up to 621 miles on a single tank and reach speeds of 86 mph, refueling at newly installed hydrogen filling stations.
Though most hydrogen is currently produced using fossil fuels, the rail operator aims to transition to renewable sources like wind energy in the near future. As electrification remains too costly for low-traffic routes, hydrogen-powered trains offer a viable, climate-conscious solution — and countries like France and Italy are already following suit.
However, despite Germany leading the world in hydrogen train adoption, real-world operations have hit some roadblocks.
The country’s largest hydrogen fleet, 27 iLINT trains ordered for Frankfurt’s Taunus network in a $500 million contract, had to be withdrawn in late 2024 due to performance and reliability issues. And eighteen trains are currently being overhauled to include more powerful fuel cells and expanded hydrogen storage.
In the meantime, some older diesel trains are temporarily back in service.
Hydrogen supply logistics have also proven problematic — trains need to refuel at chemical plants with restricted access, causing delays and operational inefficiencies.
Credit: Hashem Al-Ghaili
