Stadler wins bid for hydrogen trains in Italy

The Italian railway operator Ferrovie della Calabria (FdC) has ordered three new hydrogen trains with 950mm gauge from the Swiss manufacturer of railway rolling stock Stadler.

In 2023, a framework agreement was inked, paving the way for deploying as many as 15 hydrogen-powered trains in the Italian region of Calabria starting in 2026. These trains, set to be produced at Stadler's headquarters in Bussnang, Switzerland, consist of two passenger cars and a power pack made from lightweight aluminium, enhancing their energy efficiency. The power pack serves as the housing for fuel cells, hydrogen tanks, and various technical components. Notably, Stadler had previously clinched a deal to provide hydrogen-powered trains to California the previous year.

The CEO of FdC, Ernesto Ferraro, expressed satisfaction with the agreement with Stadler, "The additional trains ordered from Stadler, with whom we have had a fruitful cooperation for years, are a further investment towards the company's ongoing modernisation."

"The purchase of a further three hydrogen-powered trains, in addition to the six already commissioned, and the other investments underway, including those for modernising and speeding up the railway infrastructure, renewing the rolling stock on the road, building the hydrogen production plant, and innovating the company's technology and infrastructure, represent the concrete implementation of the company's strategies launched with the ambition to become a modern and sustainable transport company within the next three years."

"These goals are now possible thanks to the synergy created with the Region of Calabria, the company's sole shareholder, and with the relevant Ministries, which have made available the necessary resources to support the industrial plan that the company is pursuing and to whom our thanks go."

FdC's Investment Manager - PNRR - IT, Aristide Vercillo Martino, added, "The project launched in recent years as part of the ecological transition, with a project to use hydrogen as a new fuel for its means of transport, and a total investment of more than 400 million euro, confirms the company's desire to become a leader in regional transport and to provide more services to users, with innovative processes and in line with the objectives that a modern company must set itself. The synergy created over the years with Stadler will make it possible to accelerate the processes initiated to improve rail services in the area."

Ansgar Brockmeyer, the Executive Vice President of Marketing & Sales at Stadler, said, "We are very proud that FdC has once again commissioned Stadler to supply additional trains. In partnership with FdC, we are driving forward the decarbonisation of rail transport in Italy. The new narrow-gauge hydrogen trains are a world first and pave the way to sustainable rail transport on narrow-gauge lines worldwide. We thank FdC for the trust and look forward to deepening our partnership with them."

Maurizio Oberti, Marketing & Sales Director for Italy, commented, "This additional order consolidates Stadler's positioning in Italy. Several Italian regions and operators have already acquired the entire portfolio of Stadler products and vehicles, from trams and metros to long-distance vehicles and locomotives. This is a remarkable achievement for Stadler."