A passenger train powered by hydrogen fuel cells, manufactured by Stadler Rail, has set a Guinness World Record by traveling continuously for nearly two days covering 2,803 kilometers.
The Flirt H2 train set the record for the longest distance traveled by a hydrogen-powered train without needing to refuel or recharge. (Video: Stadler Rail AG)
Efforts to replace fossil fuel-powered trains are underway as countries heavily invest in electrifying railway networks worldwide and introducing battery-powered trains such as FLXDrive, Blues, and Flirt Akku. The latest example comes from Stadler Rail AG, which previously set a Guinness World Record in 2021 for the longest battery-powered journey on a single charge at 224 kilometers on the route between Berlin and Warnemünde during the region’s cold winter. This was a remarkable achievement for a train designed with a range of just 80 kilometers per charge.
Not every railway network can support electrification, and the battery range is often insufficient for long-distance passenger and freight transport. Therefore, hydrogen fuel cells have become the perfect solution, allowing extended travel distances while emitting only steam and water.
The vehicle uses two motorized traction units with a hydrogen tank and fuel cells placed in the middle.
Stadler first introduced the Flirt H2 passenger train model at the InnoTrans event in Berlin in 2022 and began testing in Switzerland. The train is designed to replace diesel trains on rail networks that cannot be electrified or have only been partially electrified. The vehicle uses two motorized traction units with a hydrogen tank and fuel cells located in the middle. The fuel cells recharge the onboard battery, powering the electric motor.
Initially built for the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority in California, the San Bernardino model has a maximum speed of 127 km/h and a range of 460 kilometers per fuel stop. However, that range was surpassed during testing on the ENSCO test track in Pueblo, Colorado, bringing Stadler into the record books once again.
On the evening of March 20, the Flirt H2 began its first run on the tracks. Engineers then alternated control for over 46 hours, with the train stopping after traveling 2,803 kilometers on just one hydrogen tank, New Atlas reported on March 27. This record marks the longest distance achieved by a hydrogen-powered passenger train without needing to refuel or recharge. According to Ansgar Brockmeyer, a representative of Stadler, the new record establishes an ideal operating range for the hydrogen version of the Flirt H2 train.
In addition to confirmed orders in California, Stadler revealed that two Italian rail operators have signed contracts to supply them with 15 hydrogen-powered trains.
