Late last year, a hydrogen train co-developed by CRRC Changchun Railway Co and Chengdu Rail Transit was presented. It is faster than the Alstom Coradia iLint and more high-tech as well.
While Siemens plans to launch its Mireo H2 Plus H in 2024, the competition is also coming from China. The CRRC Group, which already makes high-speed trains with a cruising speed of 400 km/h, has developed a hydrogen-powered urban train. The latter is based on the Fuxing, a four-wagon train capable of reaching a top speed of 160 km/h and having a range of 600 km/h. It is slightly faster than the iLint (140 km/h), but does not match its range (over 1,000 km). However, CRRC is making a difference with an autonomous steering system and a 5G connection.
The Chinese group had already presented a hydrogen shunting locomotive in 2021. It will deliver one unit to Chile and another to Bolivia. CRRC has also designed hydrogen-powered tram-trains, which is operating in China since 2019, and of which 38 units have been ordered by Malaysia.
Article written by Laurent Meillaud and translated by Logan King
