North America’s first hydrogen-powered train tested on Quebec rails
Global News
It’s been in commercial service in Germany since 2018, but this is its North American debut, and the company says the train is the first of its kind on the continent.
Alstom’s Coradia iLint train is making its way along the tracks connecting Quebec City to Baie-Saint-Paul, Que., as part of an $8-million pilot project this summer.
The train is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, using green hydrogen produced by Harnois Énergies, and emits only water vapour while it runs. It’s been in commercial service in Germany since 2018, but this is its North American debut, and Alstom claims the train is the first of its kind on the continent.
Engineers with the Train de Charlevoix were sent to Germany last winter to learn how to operate it.
“It’s a very smooth train and to feel it when you’re actually driving, it has these cushions of air and it’s almost like you’re not even touching the tracks,” train operator Benoit Robitaille told Global News.
An engineer from Germany is also aboard at all times to help translate the controls and problem-solve when need be.
“The controls are not as primitive as the diesel trains. You have computers telling you if there’s any problems,” Robitaille said. “It’s still all in German, and my German’s not that great.”
The pilot project will run until Sept. 30, but Train de Charlevoix general manager Nancy Belley is hoping to see the technology used in the long term.
“It’s definitely a step in the direction of what we want to demonstrate in these beautiful Charlevoix landscapes,” she said.
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