Alstom’s Coradia iLint (the world’s first passenger train powered by hydrogen fuel cells) will be tested in the Netherlands province of Groningen, in a pilot project that will also involve local operator Arriva, the Dutch railway infrastructure manager ProRail and the energy company Engie.

The tests will be carried out at up to 140kph on the track between Groningen and Leeuwarden during the first quarter of 2020 and will last about two weeks.

The aim is to demonstrate that hydrogen fuel-cell technology is an appropriate way to achieve zero-emission rail traffic on non-electrified lines in the Netherlands, where there are currently diesel trains running.

Bernard Belvaux, managing director of Alstom Benelux (www.alstom.com), said: “Alstom is committed to developing and implementing mobility solutions that not only permit the emergence of fully sustainable transport systems but also help to drive the broader energy transition.

"We look forward to demonstrating what has already been proven in Germany — that hydrogen represents a highly suitable way forward in both cases.”

The Coradia iLint is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell that produces electrical power for traction. The train is quiet and emission-free, emitting only water and steam during operation.

It represents a clean alternative for railway operators and regional authorities wishing to replace diesel fleets for operation on non-electrified lines and meet zero-emission objectives.

The world’s first two hydrogen trains have been in regular passenger service in Lower Saxony (Germany) since September 2018; the local transport authority LNVG will operate 14 Coradia iLint trains on that line from 2021.

Also in Germany, RMV has ordered 27 Coradia iLint — the largest fleet of hydrogen trains in the world — for operation from 2022.

The Dutch railway network has about 1,000km of non-electrified line.