After successful tests in Germany and the Netherlands, Alstom plans to develop a hydrogen-powered train for Italy. To this end, the French manufacturer has joined forces with Snam, a major Italian energy infrastructure company. In the next five years, the partners will work together over the project.

The agreement between Alstom and Snam includes the joint development of the hydrogen-powered trains and the related technological infrastructure, as well as management and maintenance services. Each partner has its own specific function. Alstom will be responsible for manufacturing and maintaining the hydrogen trains, while Snam will develop the necessary infrastructure for production, transport and refuelling.

“This move is a further contribution to the decarbonisation of transport and to the development of the hydrogen economy in Italy. Hydrogen produced from renewables will become competitive with fossil fuels in a few years and will play a key role in the energy transition, particularly in industry, heating and heavy transport. It will be a pillar of the European Green New Deal and post-COVID investments. Snam is investing and innovating to make its network compatible with hydrogen, to encourage the development of new technologies and create an Italian supply chain,” CEO of Snam Marco Alverà noted.

Coradia iLint trains

As a basis for the Italian project, Alstom plans to use its Coradia iLint hydrogen-powered trains. They have been successfully tested in Germany and the Netherlands. In Germany, the hydrogen trains have been running for a year and a half on the regular line carrying passengers in Lower Saxony. Alstom has already secured two firm orders for the Coradia iLint hydrogen-powered vehicles with the German customers: 14 units will be delivered to Lower Saxony and 27 units to the Rhine-Main Metropolitan Region. The French manufacturer also concluded memoranda with several German states for producing up to 60 hydrogen trains.

“We believe in hydrogen. This is the reason why we have signed a partnership with Snam. Coradia iLint, the first hydrogen-powered train, is already in passenger service between the towns of Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Bremervörde and Buxtehude in Germany. We hope that Coradia ILint hydrogen trains will soon become a reality in Italy, too. Thanks to a partner like Snam we will be able to respond to the market by offering a full-fledged solution,” Michele Viale, Managing Director of Alstom Italy and Switzerland, explained the purpose of the deal with Snam.

Read also:

• Future of mobility: what is known about hydrogen trains in Germany
• Hydrogen train on test tracks in Netherlands