Alstom, the French locomotive manufacturer and Ferrovie Nord Milano (FNM) have created a partnership and have now revealed Italy’s first hydrogen powered train, the Coraida Stream train. It was unveiled at the EXPO Ferroviaria in 2023.

The train is fitted with hydrogen fuel-cells, it has the capacity to carry 260 passengers and it is able to cover a range of over 600 km. The train is set to begin service by Q4 2024 and it will eventually become 1 of 6. In 2020 Alstom and FNM signed a $168 million contract agreement, stating that both companies agree to deliver 6 hydrogen fuel cell trains to Italy. This was agreed as the aim for this train is to form the first phase of the H2iseO project.

H2iseO is a project which is aiming to create Italy’s first Hydrogen valley’ in the Brescia area, which is where the Coradia train will begin its service, in Valcamonica along the non-electrified Brescia-Iseo-Edolo line. This is an incredible step for the project as it marks a sustainability milestone which the FNM president, Andrea Gibelli, commented on.

Gibelli said, “This is a project with a high innovation content, embracing social, economic, geographic, environmental and mobility dimensions, and it has great value in terms of sustainability because it allows us to use the already existing railway infrastructure by putting new hydrogen trains into service, which are able to cut emissions, contribute to the decarbonisation of mobility in the valley and ensure greater comfort for travellers. In addition, the creation of an economic and industrial district based on hydrogen, starting with but not limited to rail mobility, will have positive effects on the economy and employment in the area.”

This project is a product of a 15-year partnership between the companies and this project is set up with the aim of meeting European goals of completely reducing Carbon emissions by 2050.