Class / BR 554.0 | TrainsDepot.org

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.

Sources: https://railcolornews.com/2017/11/09/de-fuel-cell-trains-are-coming-lnvg-orders-14-coradia-ilint-trains/

2021

March 11

The first unit of the series is showcased at the Alstom plant in Salzgitter .

Sources: https://x.com/AlstomDACH/status/1370015973214928899

2022

July 15

German authorities grant these units the final authorization for placement in service. This is the result of an extensive four-year testing period on the Weser-Elbe network. Alstom was able to extend the range by 200 km to 1,000 km overall.

The trains will be based in Bremervörde, where a hydrogen filling station has been installed by Linde, Verkehrsbetriebe Elbe-Weser GmbH (EVB) will gradually phase out Lint DMUs on line RB76 (Rotenburg – Verden) and RB33 (Cuxhaven – Bremerhaven – Buxtehude) lines and replace them by the new trains.

Originally, these units were planned to enter service in December 2021, so they are delayed by almost a year.

Sources: https://railcolornews.com/2022/08/01/de-german-authorities-full-authorization-for-evb-fuel-cell-trains/

2022

July 25

On July 25th, 2022, 4 Verkehrsbetriebe Elbe-Weser GmbH (EVB) Coradia iLints start their passenger (test) services on the Bremerhaven - Bremervörde / Buxtende / Cuxhaven (RB33) line.

Sources: https://railcolornews.com/2022/08/01/de-german-authorities-full-authorization-for-evb-fuel-cell-trains/

2022

August 24

On August 24th, 2022, Alstom announces the commencement of regular passenger service on the world’s first 100% hydrogen-operated train route, which connects Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Bremervörde and Buxtehude.

Sources: https://www.alstom.com/sites/alstom.com/files/2022/08/24/20220824_PR_Coradia_iLint_Passenger_Service_EN_0.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com

2025

August

The operator of the world’s first hydrogen-only passenger rail service has been compelled to reduce operations in Lower Saxony due to delays in the replacement of defective fuel cell modules. EVB has reported that only 4 out of its 14 Alstom Coradia iLint units are currently operational. The RB33 line has experienced capacity bottlenecks following missed delivery commitments from an unnamed fuel-cell supplier.

An EVB spokesperson expressed dissatisfaction regarding the situation, stating, “The situation with our HMUs is not exactly a mood booster, but we are doing what we can,” and noted that both EVB and LNVG have made repeated appeals to Alstom, the train manufacturer, for a resolution that has yet to materialize.

In response to the operational shortfall, Lower Saxony is supplying up to seven diesel locomotives as backup; however, EVB indicated that even with full availability of these locomotives, they cannot fully compensate for the inactive hydrogen fleet.

Alstom has not yet provided a timeline for the arrival of the replacement fuel cell modules.

Sources: https://fuelcellsworks.com/2025/08/14/fuel-cells/fuel-cell-shortage-forces-german-hydrogen-train-pioneer-back-to-diesel?utm_source=chatgpt.com

2025

November 26

Alstom confirms that the development of hydrogen-powered trains has been “temporarily paused” in France due to the withdrawal of French government funding for European hydrogen research projects. The company’s CEO, Henri Poupart-Lafarge, states that hydrogen technology is “not yet mature.” In an interview with French media outlet BFM Business, Alstom acknowledges an internal document indicating that certain hydrogen research and development programs have been suspended in France. An Alstom spokesperson informs IRJ that this suspension impacts locomotive and regional train hydrogen fuel cell research and development projects in the country.

However, the spokesperson emphasizes that the IPCEI projects in Italy and their associated funding remain fully intact. Alstom will continue to support these contracts as planned, including maintenance agreements for the Coradia iLint. In France, the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Occitanie, Grand Est, and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions have ordered 12 hydrogen-powered Régiolis trains, developed in cooperation with CAF. This deal, along with orders for the Coradia Stream H design from South East Railway and the North Milan Railway (FNM) in Italy, remains unaffected. FNM has awarded Alstom a framework contract to supply up to 14 hydrogen trains. Additionally, contracts for the supply and maintenance of Coradia iLint hydrogen trains for German regions continue to be unaffected.

Sources: https://www.railjournal.com/technology/alstom-shelves-hydrogen-development/

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Latest update on the 10th of December 2025 at 20:25

Contributor(s): Tudor C.

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