2017

November 9

The world's first market-ready fuel cell regional train, named "Coradia iLint," is presented at Wolfsburg Central Station by the state of Lower Saxony, railway manufacturer Alstom, and gas manufacturer Linde. The Coradia iLint is designed to operate on electricity generated through the oxidation of hydrogen gas in fuel cells, with the only local emission being water vapor.

The iLint is built at the Alstom plant in Salzgitter, which was previously known as Linke-Hofmann-Busch. Its design is based on the diesel railcar Coradia Lint 54, but it replaces the internal combustion engines with electric traction motors in its two-part units. These electric motors are powered by two fuel cells, each with a capacity of approximately 200 kW, which are strategically mounted on the roof near the joint between the two carriages. The train features hydrogen tanks located on both car roofs, allowing for the storage of around 90 kilograms of hydrogen per tank. The hydrogen is stored as compressed gas (CGH2) at a pressure of 350 bar. Refueling the train takes about 15 minutes, making it a practical option for regional services.

To enhance performance, the Coradia iLint is equipped with a lithium-ion battery that buffers peak load during starting and acceleration. This battery is charged using energy recovered during braking, contributing to the train's efficiency. Model calculations indicate that the iLint has a potential operational range of around 800 kilometers on a full tank of hydrogen.

Lower Saxony signs a contract for the procurement of 14x Coradia iLint vehicles as well as 30 years of maintenance and energy supply. The 14x trains are produced by Alstom for the LNVG vehicle pool and are intended to transport passengers between Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Bremervörde and Buxtehude from December 2021. This will be registered as Class 554.0.
 

Sources: https://www.faz.net/aktuell/technik-motor/motor/erster-brennstoffzellen-zug-kommt-nach-wolfsburg-15278702.html

2018

July 11

Alstom's Coradia iLint receive approval from the Federal Railway Office (EBA) for passenger traffic in the public network in Germany and the 2x prototypes start trial operations in the Elbe-Weser network.  

Sources: https://www.alstom.com/de/press-releases-news/2018/7/coradia-ilint-wasserstoffzug-erhalt-zulassung-fur-den-fahrgasteinsatz-im-deutschen-schienenverkehrsnetz

2018

September 17

The 2 prototypes, operated by the Eisenbahnen und Verkehrsbetriebe Elbe-Weser (EVB), enter regular operations with passengers on the Buxtehude-Bremerhaven-Cuxhaven route for a short time and while waiting for the delivery from 2021 of the 14x Class 554.0 units.  

Do you have additional informations regarding this vehicle?

Help us writing the history of Class / BR 654! Your knowledge is precious for us and the entire community, do not hesitate to share your facts, photos or videos:

Latest update on the 2nd of January 2025 at 21:31

Contributor(s): Tudor C.

Discussion forum