The Spanish railway manufacturer CAF has launched online tests of its hydrogen train, a first in Spain, with the hope of competing with Alstom and Siemens in this technology considered promising, the Basque group announced on Tuesday.
The test phase of this project called FCH2Rail, led by a consortium involving Toyota, DLR and the Spanish railway company Renfe, has reached “an important step” with the “track tests” between Zaragoza and Canfranc, in the Pyrenees. Aragonese, points out CAF in a press release. This test, the first of a hydrogen train in the Spanish railway network, will continue “on the Madrid and Galicia lines”, under different types of “weather conditions”, specifies the manufacturer, which plans to conclude this project by the end of 2024. .
A “green” hydrogen-powered train
The CAF hydrogen train is a bimodal device, also capable of driving under catenaries in electric traction. It is powered by “green” hydrogen (produced from renewable electricity) supplied by the Spanish energy giant Iberdrola. The hydrogen train is considered an interesting alternative to diesel to run on non-electrified lines, provided that “green” supply chains are established for this fuel, which only releases water vapor when burned.
Most manufacturers have launched experiments in this area in recent years, the most advanced being French Alstom, which circulated its first prototypes in Germany in 2018 and whose trains are in commercial service in two regions of the country. Alstom, which has also sold models in Italy, is also working on developing a catenary/hydrogen bimodal model for the French market.
Source: BFM TV
