The future of rail transport is inextricably linked to environmentally friendly technologies. According to many experts, hydrogen trains are to become one of the cornerstones of modern railways. How do Polish companies fare in terms of the advancement of work on the application of hydrogen in the railways? Can hydrogen trains revolutionise rail transport in our country and around the world?
Although rail has for years been the greenest form of transport in the EU, efforts are being made to decarbonize it. According to many experts, the hydrogen train can contribute to long-term positive changes in this area. The value of this solution lies not only in environmental considerations, but also in aspects of efficiency, comfort, and safety. Among the benefits of using hydrogen in railways, it is worth mentioning the reduction in noise levels and the possibility of effectively replacing diesel trains on non-electrified lines. Making optimum use of the potential of hydrogen fuel and realizing further environmental goals with it will be one of the most important challenges facing the railway industry in the near future.
Initiatives undertaken and implemented by Polish companies are gaining considerable publicity in this context. An excellent example of this is the SM42-6Dn hydrogen locomotive designed by PESA Bydgoszcz. The granting of its homologation by the Office of Railway Transport (Urząd Transportu Kolejowego) was met with considerable media interest, not only in the industry. The hydrogen railway fires the imagination and gives hope for a significant reduction in the carbon footprint of rail transport in the coming decades. We encourage you to read the article, in which we briefly describe:
For more than 20 years, hydrogen locomotives and other technological solutions based on the use of this fuel have been one of the key issues in the discussion on the future of rail transport. However, the very concept of using a hydrogen fuel cell to power vehicles is much older. Its practical use in engineering was first encountered as early as the mid-1960s when it was installed on board the space shuttle that took part in the Apollo mission. Outside the space sector, however, the solution did not prove to be a breakthrough. Barriers to its development and dissemination included the low level of environmental awareness at the time and the relatively high cost of the technology.
Attempts to implement hydrogen cells in buses began as early as the 1990s, but it took until the new millennium for this technology to begin to be developed more intensively in public and private transport. Suffice it to mention that the conventional date for the first use of the term ‘hydrogen railway’ is 22 August 2003. The phrase was coined when giving a presentation on the ‘Mooresville Hydrail Initiative’ at the US Department of Transportation’s Volpe Transportation Systems Centre in Cambridge. Interestingly, the first hydrogen-powered mine locomotive was demonstrated in Canada in 2002. – which was a year earlier. As an indication of the scale of the challenges involved in implementing hydrogen technology, it took until 2006 for a hydrogen railcar to be implemented, and another 12 years for the Coradia iLint model – the world’s first hydrogen-powered commercial passenger train – to enter service. On 17 September 2018, the first two vehicles of this type were put into service in Lower Saxony.
The potential of hydrogen rail is recognized by many countries seeking to modernize their rail transport. Investments in hydrogen or hybrid (hydrogen-electric) trains are planned and underway in France, Italy, and England, among others. By using this technology, British railways intend to phase out the use of diesel trains completely by 2040. Countries outside of Europe, such as Canada, the USA, and South Korea, are also interested in the hydrogen passenger train concept. It is worth noting that work is also underway on hydrogen locomotives used, for example, for shunting work at marshaling yards or inside industrial plants.
Investment in the development of hydrogen trains and locomotives is also taking place in Poland. It is worth noting that, as a priority, hydrogen-powered railway vehicles are being used as an alternative to diesel trains on non-electrified lines. Our country compares very well with the EU average in terms of the rate of electrification of lines, so it would seem that there would be less interest in hydrogen trains and locomotives. This is a mistaken impression – in Poland, there is a low level of use of the railway network, which is linked, among other things, to the limited service of non-electrified lines. If decisions are taken to increase the level of use of the rail network, hydrogen trains could prove to be a very beneficial solution for decarbonizing Polish railways.
Work on the project, which is Poland‘s first hydrogen locomotive, was started several years ago by the Bydgoszcz-based railway company PESA. The result of this project is the SM42-6Dn shunting locomotive, which is powered by two hydrogen cells. It is equipped with four asynchronous traction motors of 180 kW each and access to hydrogen tanks with a capacity of 175 kg. The hydrogen cells generate energy and, via a traction battery, power all four engines. This enables the locomotive to reach a maximum speed of 90 km/h. Importantly, the capacity of the hydrogen tanks is adapted so that one refueling allows a full 24 hours of shunting operation. It is worth adding that the SM42-6Dn shunting locomotive has a built-in obstacle recognition system and an autonomous driving system. This allows the engine driver to radio control the vehicle one-on-one when setting up trainsets.
The Bydgoszcz-based hydrogen-powered locomotive premiered at the TRAKO 2021 International Railway Fair and was approved for operation by the Railway Transport Office in mid-2023. A Polish hydrogen train will be built in the near future. PESA Bydgoszcz plans to launch the first passenger trainsets using hydrogen cells by 2026.
The drive to decarbonize rail transport is leading more and more countries to allocate large amounts of funding to the development of hydrogen trains. What makes such high hopes for this technology?
One of the main reasons why hydrogen rail is attracting so much interest is its environmental potential. Burning hydrogen involves no greenhouse gas emissions. The only by-products of its use as a fuel are heat and water.
A major advantage of hydrogen cells is their energy efficiency. This is largely due to the characteristics of hydrogen, which, relative to mass, has the highest calorific value and heat of combustion among fuels. Equally importantly, hydrogen trains are not inferior to conventional modes of transport in terms of safety.
The implementation of hydrogen trains makes it possible to reduce the number of diesel trains running on non-electrified lines. Overall, hydrogen trains can also contribute to the energy efficiency of rail transport, as hydrogen locomotives have good efficiency, being able to travel long distances without frequent refueling.
An important advantage of hydrogen trains is their low noise emissions, which is particularly important for the comfort of those living close to the railway tracks.
Hydrogen cells, which are the basis of railway hydrogen technology, are characterized by efficient operation at low temperatures.
Beneficial alternative to electrification of railway lines
Hydrogen rail is a worthwhile alternative to investment in rail electrification. This aspect is particularly relevant for markets such as North America, for example, where electrified lines are very rare.
A point worth noting in the context of the use of hydrogen in the railway area is also its wide range of applications. Based on this technology, it is possible to modernize many different types of rail transport, including passenger, freight or industrial rail, among others.
The road to achieving the goal of cost-effective and efficient deployment of hydrogen trains is not straightforward. One of the main problems to be tackled is the need to invest in the right infrastructure. Among other things, it is necessary to have an extensive network of hydrogen refueling stations and to train a sufficient number of employees who will have the knowledge needed to properly operate and maintain the entire system.
Another challenge associated with the hydrogen revolution in rail transport is how to obtain the hydrogen itself. Some of the fuel cell trains tested to date have used so-called grey hydrogen, which can be the product of methane reforming, coal gasification or the breakdown of water into individual elements. The use of energy- and emission-intensive processes in this context contradicts the ecological idea of hydrogen railway technology. The long-term goal is to use so-called green hydrogen, which is obtained by electrolysis using energy from renewable sources such as wind farms or photovoltaic panels.
The potential inherent in hydrogen trains means that many countries around the world are choosing to invest in this technology. The emission-free capability that modern hydrogen-powered rail vehicles will be able to provide could make them the foundation of a future ecological revolution in rail transport. However, there are more than just environmental arguments in favor of funding the development of hydrogen railways. Other important advantages of hydrogen trains include their efficiency, low noise levels, safety and efficient operation at low temperatures, among others. However, the cost-effective deployment of railway vehicles is associated with certain challenges, such as the need to create the appropriate infrastructure, educate the workforce, as well as the efficient acquisition of green hydrogen.
The design of hydrogen-powered rail vehicles is an endeavor that requires the specialists involved to have the necessary know-how and many years of experience in implementing advanced technological projects in the area of rail transport. Knowledge of the specifics of this sector is crucial, as the nature of rail vehicle production differs significantly from the standards according to which, for example, industrial design in the automotive industry is carried out. At Endego, we have specialized in conducting technology projects for companies in the rail industry for many years. We have successfully cooperated with leading national railway companies such as PESA, the developer of the first Polish hydrogen locomotive, and Polski Tabor Szynowy – Wagon, among others.
Are you looking for a proven engineering team with experience in designing key elements that affect the functionality, efficiency and aesthetics of rail vehicles? Contact us and let’s create the future of rail transport together!
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