In Germany, albeit with some initial operational difficulties, which were later overcome, Alstom's hydrogen trains are already in regular operation, and in Italy - as recently confirmed by the Italian head of the group, Michele Viale - they will start their commercial activity during 2024 in Valcamonica, thanks to the H2iseO project by Ferrovie Nord Milano.
But the French manufacturer is not only looking at the Old Continent: in fact, plans to spread fuel cell trains are also taking shape across the Atlantic, where the first journey of a hydrogen-powered train in North America took place in recent days. A Coradia iLint with fuel cell propulsion system traveled - as reported by the magazine Hydrogen Insight - about 85 km along the non-electrified tourist line Charlevoix Railway, between Québec City and Baie St Paul.
Alstom's hydrogen train will continue to operate on this route throughout the summer season, until the end of September, as part of a demonstration project launched last February by the Government of Québec, the owner of the Chemin de Charlevoix railway line, the commercial operator Train de Charlevoix and by Harnois Énergies, a local company active in the distribution of fuel, which in this case deals specifically with supplying the H2 necessary to feed the trains.
Indeed, Harnois manages an already active roadside hydrogen refueling station, where the fuel is produced thanks to an electrolyser powered by renewable energy taken from the grid (in Québec, 94% of energy production comes from hydroelectric sources).
