METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Alstom's hydrogen fuel-cell train undergoes testing in the Netherlands

The series of tests is being performed at night at up to about 87 miles per hour without passengers.

March 11, 2020
Alstom's hydrogen fuel-cell train undergoes testing in the Netherlands

The Coradia iLint is the world's first regional passenger train to enter service equipped with fuel cells to convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, thus eliminating pollutant emissions related to propulsion.

Alstom/Rene Frampe

2 min to read


The Coradia iLint is the world's first regional passenger train to enter service equipped with fuel cells to convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, thus eliminating pollutant emissions related to propulsion. Alstom/Rene Frampe

Alstom performed 10 days of tests of the Coradia iLint hydrogen fuel-cell train on the approximate 40.3 miles of line between Groningen and Leeuwarden in the north of the Netherlands. The tests follow 18 successful months of passenger service on the Buxtehude–Bremervörde–Bremerhaven–Cuxhaven line in Germany, where a total of 41 Coradia iLint have already been ordered. The latest tests make the Netherlands the second country in Europe where the train has proven itself a unique emissions-free solution for non-electrified lines.

Ad Loading...

Last October, Alstom and the Province of Groningen, local operator Arriva, the Dutch railway infrastructure manager ProRail, and the energy company Engie signed a pilot project agreement to test the Coradia iLint, the world’s first passenger train powered by hydrogen fuel cells, in the Netherlands. DEKRA, an independent testing inspection and certification company, has been appointed test leader.

The series of tests is being performed at night at up to about 87 miles per hour without passengers. For the purpose of the tests, a mobile filling station has been erected by Engie for refueling the Coradia iLint with completely green — sustainably produced — hydrogen.

The Coradia iLint is the world's first regional passenger train to enter service equipped with fuel cells to convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, thus eliminating pollutant emissions related to propulsion. The train is quiet, and its only emission is water. Purpose-built for use on non-electrified lines, it provides clean, sustainable traction with no sacrifice in performance. It has a range of approximately 621 miles — the same as equivalent-size diesel multiple units. The train is developed and produced by the Alstom teams in Salzgitter, Germany and Tarbes, France.

More Rail

Operation Lifesaver Rail Safety Education logo over railroad tracks background, representing rail safety awareness initiatives.
Railby News/Media ReleaseMay 4, 2026

Operation Lifesaver Awards Rail Safety Outreach Funds in 12 States

Operation Lifesaver awarded $220,200 in grants to 12 states to support rail safety campaigns focused on grade crossing awareness and trespass prevention.

Read More →
Caltrain trains on tracks
Railby StaffMay 1, 2026

Caltrain Survey Shows Record-High Rider Approval

The survey showed that commute trips still make up the majority of ridership, with most riders boarding 2 to 3 days a week, reflecting hybrid work schedules. Two-thirds of Caltrain riders have access to a car, while 37% of Caltrain riders are considered low-income.

Read More →
A person working on a bus
ManagementMay 1, 2026

Data-Driven Maintenance: Focusing Effort Where It Matters Most

Advances in data and analytics are giving transit agencies new opportunities to refine maintenance practices, improve efficiency and make more informed decisions about asset performance.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Carmen C. Cham of HNTB
Managementby Alex RomanApril 29, 2026

How Transit Architecture Is Reshaping the Rider Journey

In this Consultant Roundtable, Carmen C. Cham shares insights on how agencies can create spaces that are intuitive, connected and built for long-term impact.

Read More →
A Red Line Rendering
Railby StaffApril 27, 2026

Chicago Kicks Off Historic Red Line Extension at Michigan Avenue Station Site

The Red Line Extension Project will provide the Far South Side of Chicago with rapid rail transit for the first time by extending the Red Line by 5.5 miles from 95th Street to 130th Street, including the construction of four new Red Line stations at 103rd, 111th, Michigan, and 130th streets.

Read More →
Trains at railroad crossings
Security and Safetyby StaffApril 27, 2026

USDOT Invests $1.1B to Enhance Safety Infrastructure at Railroad Crossings

Every year, more than 2,000 incidents and 300 fatalities occur at railroad crossings nationwide. 

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Siemens and LK Comstock photo for Fulton-Liberty Lines
Security and Safetyby StaffApril 27, 2026

NYC’s Fulton–Liberty Lines Get Digital Signal Upgrade from Siemens and L.K. Comstock

The Siemens CBTC System, Trainguard MT, in compliance with New York Subway Interoperability Interface Specifications, enables trains to run as close as 90 seconds apart, using next-generation signaling and continuous communication to keep operations moving seamlessly.

Read More →
WMATA 7000-series railcars at Navy Yard
Managementby StaffApril 24, 2026

WMATA Adopts FY2027 Budget, Boosts Service Without Raising Fares

While recognizing regional economic constraints and continuing to improve service, the budget increases the jurisdictional subsidy to less than 1.8%, significantly below the inflation rate and the 3% regional target, said agency officials.

Read More →
Denver RTD's A Line with passengers
Railby StaffApril 23, 2026

Denver's RTD Celebrates 10th Anniversary of the A Line

With more than 59,400,000 boardings since the service’s debut, the A Line’s utilization surpassed that of all other RTD rail services in 2025, the agency reported.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Passengers on a public transit vehicle.
Railby StaffApril 21, 2026

Virginia DRPT Releases Draft Six-Year Program for Transit, Rail Investments

The plan outlines funding for transit operations, capital projects, and freight and passenger rail initiatives, as state officials seek public input on priorities shaping mobility and infrastructure across the Commonwealth.

Read More →