Alstom and Air Products to introduce hydrogen trains in the Czech Republic
Alstom, a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, and Air Products, the world’s largest hydrogen producer and supplier, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the deployment of hydrogen solutions in rail, including the necessary infrastructure in the Czech Republic.
The agreement supports the fulfillment of goals set by the European Green Deal, in particular the ‘Fit for 55’ package.
“By signing this memorandum, we formally confirm our long-term cooperation with Air Products. Both parties will do everything in their power to accelerate the introduction of hydrogen in rail in the Czech Republic. Alstom is a pioneer in hydrogen rail mobility solutions and has much to offer in this area, from expertise to the trains themselves. With Air Products, we can also supply the necessary fuelling stations and build the hydrogen infrastructure in the country. We are in contact with the regions in this matter and we are trying to take action to support the creation of the necessary legislation, which is still missing in the Czech Republic,” says Dan Kurucz, Managing Director of Alstom in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
“We are honoured to be working with Alstom to deliver on our commitment to decarbonise transport in the Czech Republic with low-carbon hydrogen. We will use our expertise as the world’s largest hydrogen producer and are ready to invest in building hydrogen infrastructure to kick-start the use of low-carbon hydrogen in practice. Together with Alstom, we believe we can build a working network of hydrogen trains that will demonstrate that hydrogen is the ideal propulsion for non-electrified lines. And that the operation of hydrogen trains is absolutely environmentally friendly and safe and, in the medium term, economically viable,” commented Vlastimil Pavlíček, Business Development Director New Technologies, CE&CIS subregion Air Products.
Dan Kurucz, Managing Director of Alstom in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, said, “By signing this memorandum, we formally confirm our long-term cooperation with Air Products. Both parties will do everything in their power to accelerate the introduction of hydrogen in rail in the Czech Republic. Alstom is a pioneer in hydrogen rail mobility solutions and has much to offer in this area, from expertise to the trains themselves.”
Alstom was the first company in the world to put a hydrogen passenger train into service in 2018 in Germany. Since then, it has been tested in Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden and Poland, and purchased by France and Italy. Alstom presented the hydrogen train in the Czech Republic and Slovakia during its Railshowwhich occurred on 17-25 May 2022.
As the world’s largest hydrogen producer, Air Products is taking major steps to accelerate the energy transition. In the Czech Republic Air Products operates in the field of production, supply and storage of technical gases and advanced technologies, including hydrogen and hydrogen filling stations. As part of its activities, Air Products also focuses on new ways of using hydrogen in the field of propulsion of all types of transport vehicles, including rail vehicles. Air Products also participated in the presentation of the Coradia iLint train in the Czech Republic, more specifically refilling the train with hydrogen from a mobile refuelling station.
