Germany's inauguration of a railway line powered entirely by hydrogen has been hailed as a “world premiere” and a significant step forward for green train transport.
The fleet, which cost £93m (£78m), is expected to prevent 4,400 tonnes of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere each year, according to regional rail operator LNVG.
The trains were provided by French industrial giant Alstom and are described as a "zero emission" mode of transport. Each of the trains has been fitted with a fuel cell, installed on its roof, which allows them to mix hydrogen on board with oxygen present in the ambient air, producing the electricity needed to pull the train.
Other partners in the project are the Elbe-Weser railways and transport company (evb) and the gas and engineering company Linde, which is providing the hydrogen refuelling facility.
"Whatever the time of day, passengers will travel on this route thanks to hydrogen", Stefan Schrank, project...
