First Hydrogen Train Has Arrived In The Netherlands

On February 26 in the Netherlands the first hydrogen train made its debut trip. Pro Rail was responsible for the creation of this train and it is set to run between Gronigen and Leeuwarden for ongoing testing. The train would have been available for viewing on 7 March but the time for public view and use has been offset due to the pandemic.

A series of night test runs took place between 27 February and 14 March. The crew was able to perform a number of tests on the device and the test drives ensured that the environmentally friendly hydrogen technology could be heavily monitored. The inclusion of this hydrogen train operating across the Netherlands could be a timetable experiment on how the train can run, its average fuel consumption, and how long refueling may take.

The hydrogen technology that’s on board this system has a number of applications including use on locomotives and it is a viable solution for shipping in the future. It’s estimated that hydrogen trains could be the norm by 2050 as the technology continues to develop. Hydrogen trains are quieter and much more environmentally friendly than diesel trains and they have been tested in other applications as well. The same company is also producing buses and garbage trucks to run within a small municipality and this represents a bright future for the technology and its efficiency.

As ongoing tests continue and ProRail builds on its results we will continue to see new applications for this technology as well as new types of controls that will need to be integrated into the strains for efficiency. Many manufacturers are stepping up to the plate for testing and operators are interested in moving forward with ordering future trains as well.

This post was written by Justin Tidd, Director at Swartz Engineering. For nearly a half a century, Swartz Engineering has been at the forefront of industry safety. They are a family-owned company specializing in power distribution for the electrical industry. Our design ensures maximum flexibility for excellent reliability and a high return on investment. Click here for more information.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *