ÖBB Personenverkehr has awarded sole bidder Alstom a contract to provide two hydrogen fuel cell multiple-units for trials.

AUSTRIA: The national operator’s passenger business ÖBB Personenverkehr has awarded sole bidder Alstom a contract to provide two hydrogen fuel cell multiple-units for trials.

The deal worth €1·87m includes the hire of two Coradia iLint multiple-units, along with the provision of maintenance services, hydrogen and associated refuelling equipment.

ÖBB plans to undertaken the trials at the end of April, when further details will be announced.

Two Alstom iLint units entered regular service on the Elbe-Weser network in Germany in September 2018, with 14 expected to be in operation between Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Bremervörde and Buxtehude from 2021. In May 2019 Rhein-Main transport authority RMV placed an order for 27 iLints for use around Frankfurt from 2022.

Alstom has also demonstrated the iLint in other regions of Germany as well as in the Netherlands and Austria.