Prospects of using hydrogen fuel in railway transport

The use of hydrogen fuel in railway transport helps improve the environmental situation (this is particularly true about the so-called “green” hydrogen obtained by electrolysis using unconventional and renewable energy sources), reduce noise levels in comparison to diesel locomotives and diesel trains, and provide increased security and efficiency compared to locomotives with internal combustion engines. However, hydrogen fuel is expensive, resulting in the overall high cost of operating this type of transport (approximately 60% higher than rolling stock with diesel and electric transmission). What is also worth noting is the complex design, high cost of hydrogen tanks, and potential risk of explosion and fi re in case of accidents and derailments. Storing hydrogen in the form of metal hydride compounds involves a number of technological difficulties. Hydrogen-powered vehicles have a shorter cruising range compared to diesel trains and a considerably shorter operating time for a shunting locomotive. The high cost of fuel cells necessitates the production of hybrid rolling stock with batteries.
When the hybrid scheme uses compressed hydrogen, a locomotive can only be used as a shunter. Due to a low weight of the power unit, it may be necessary to install ballast even where batteries are available, in order to provide the traction force for wheel-rail adhesion.

1. Arcos J.M.M., Santos D.M.F. The Hydrogen Color Spectrum: Techno-Economic Analysis of the Available Technologies for Hydrogen Production. Gases. 2023;3(1):25-46. DOI: 10.3390/gases3010002.

2. Alter L. There Are More Colors of Hydrogen Than Green, Blue, and Gray-Meet Brown. Turquoise, and Purple. Treehugger, Sustainability for All. 08.02.2022. URL: https://www.treehugger.com/more-colors-of-hydrogen-brown-turquoise-purple-5218320.

3. Agreement signed for Britain’s fi rst new hydrogen trаin // IRJ. International Railway Journal. URL: https://www.railjournal.com/fl eet/agreement-signed-for-britains-fi rst-new-hydrogen-train/.

4. Hydrogen: how realistic is it for rail traction? // IRJ. International Railway Journal. 11.10.2021. URL: https://www.railjournal.com/in_depth/hydrogen-how-realistic-is-it-for-rail-traction/ Access mode: for registered users.

5. Accelerated Testing Validation. DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program FY 2013 Annual Program. URL: https://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/docs/hydrogenprogramlibraries/pdfs/progress13/v_d_3_mukundan_2013.pdf.

6. Miller A.R., Barnes D.L. (Vehicle Projects LLC). Advanced underground vehicle power and control Fuel cell mine locomotive. Proceedings of the 2002 U.S. DOE Hydrogen Program Review NREL/CP-610-32405. 06.10.2020. URL: https://docs.nrel.gov/docs/fy02osti/32405a30.pdf.

7. Kuleshov N.V., Popov S.K., Zakharov S.V. [et. al]. Hydrogen Power Engineering. Moscow. Publishing House of Moscow Power Engineering Institute. 2021:548. (In Russ.).

8. Korovin N.V. Fuel Cells and Electrochemical Power Units. Moscow. Publishing House of Moscow Power Engineering Institute. 2005:280 p. (In Russ.).

9. JR East, Hitachi and Toyota to Develop Hybrid (Fuel Cell) Railway Vehicles Powered by Hydrogen.TOYOTA. 06.10.2020. URL: https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/33954855.html.

10. Berger R. Study On The Use Of Fuel Cells &Hydrogen In The Railway Environment. Report 1. State of the art & business case and market potential // Europe’s Rail. 2019. 58 Р. URL: https:// rail-research.europa.eu/publications/study-on-the-use-of-fuelcells-and-hydrogen-in-the-railway-environment/.

11. Byltseva V.D., Izvarin M.Yu., Kim K.K. Autonomously running systems in urban electric transport. Innovative Transport Systems and Technologies. 2024;10(3):300-319. DOI: 10.17816/transsyst634812. EDN SONMKY. (In Russ.).

12. Bogoslavsky A.E. Hydrogen Fuel: The prospects of use on rolling stock. Transport of the Russian Federation. 2019;6 (85):40-45. EDN PCBCTY. (In Russ.).

13. Grigorovich D.N. Making proposals for the use of hydrogen fuel in railway transport based on a review of foreign experience. Bulletin of the United Academic Board of RZhD OJSC. 2013;6:37-50. EDN RZOAZX. (In Russ.).

14. With a blue wagon. What will the Russian hydrogen-powered train be like and why is it needed? URL: https://mashnews.ru/s-golubyim-vagonom.-kakim-budet-rossijskij-vodorodnyij-poezdi-zachem-on-nuzhen.html. Publication date: 09.12.2024. (In Russ.).

15. Italy’s fi rst hydrogen train on test. IRJ. International Railway Journal 21.02.2025. URL: https://www.railjournal.com/technology/italys-fi rst-hydrogen-train-on-test/.

16. Adapting the internal combustion engine for hydrogen // IRJ. International Railway Journal. 23.02.2025. URL: https://www.railjournal.com/technology/hydrogen-combustion-engines-to-bedeveloped-and-tested-in-bremen/

17. Gallas D., Stobnicki P. Adoption of Modern Hydrogen Technologies in Rail Transport. Journal of Ecological Engineering. 2022;23(3):84-91. DOI: 10.12911/22998993/145291.