A Swiss train company has broken the Guinness World Record for the longest non-stop journey by a hydrogen-powered passenger train.
A 2,803-kilometer journey
The record-breaking train trip began on the evening of March 20, 2024 with the Stadler FLIRT-H2 train making its way onto the ENSCO test track in Pueblo, Colorado, USA. A team of engineers then drove it in shifts for 46 hours non-stop, with no refueling or recharging.
By the end of the test on March 22, 2024, the train had completed a 2,803-kilometer journey (1,741.7 miles). The distance is six times the range specified for the FLIRT-H2.
Alternative propulsion record holder
Stadler has been one of the world’s leading train manufacturers for 80 years and already holds a Guinness World Record for alternative propulsion. In December 2021, the FLIRT Akku, the battery-powered version of the FLIRT, took the gong for the longest journey (224 kilometers in Germany) in pure battery mode.
The FLIRT H2
The FLIRT-H2 was designed and built for San Bernadino County Transportation Authority in California. The two-car model can carry 108 passengers and has a top speed of 79 miles (130 km) an hour. Between the two passenger cars, its fuel tanks store hydrogen in a “power pack”. Using fuel cells it converts the hydrogen into electricity, which is traction-converted into batteries that power the train drive. Energy can also be recovered from the train’s brakes.
Praising the record run, Dr. Ansgar Brockmeyer, EVP of Marketing and Sales at Stadler said: “This world record establishes the ideal performance range of our hydrogen version of the best-selling FLIRT Electric Multiple Unit, the FLIRT H2. This is a monumental achievement from our entire team and we are very proud to hold another record title.”
Best selling
In 2023 the Transportation Authority for the State of California also ordered four FLIRT H2 trains, this time with four cars each for greater capacity. The company is also achieving sales in Europe, where two Italian rail firms (Ferrovie della Calabria and ARST) have ordered 15 trains. Competitors in the emission free mobility space include Alstom, who provided a 14-strong fleet of hydrogen-powered trains to Lower Saxony, Germany in 2024.
“Stadler is consistently focusing on the future of rail transportation with alternative drive systems by continuously developing innovative technologies,” said Martin Ritter, Stadler’s CEO, in a press release. “By using hydrogen as a clean energy source, we are actively contributing to environmental protection and shaping the sustainable and zero emission travel of tomorrow.”