North America’s first hydrogen-powered train tested on Quebec rails | 24CA News
Alstom’s Coradia iLint prepare is making its method alongside the tracks connecting Quebec City to Baie-Saint-Paul, Que., as a part of an $8-million pilot mission this summer season.
The prepare is powered by a hydrogen gasoline cell, utilizing inexperienced hydrogen produced by Harnois Énergies, and emits solely water vapour whereas it runs. It’s been in business service in Germany since 2018, however that is its North American debut, and Alstom claims the prepare is the primary of its type on the continent.
Engineers with the Train de Charlevoix had been despatched to Germany final winter to learn to function it.
The Coradia iLint is a passenger prepare powered by a hydrogen gasoline cell, which produces electrical energy for traction.
alstom.com
“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,” prepare operator Benoit Robitaille instructed Global News.
An engineer from Germany can also be aboard always to assist translate the controls and problem-solve when want be.
“The controls are not as primitive as the diesel trains. You have computers telling you if there’s any problems,” Robitaille stated. “It’s still all in German, and my German’s not that great.”
The pilot mission will run till Sept. 30, however Train de Charlevoix basic supervisor Nancy Belley is hoping to see the expertise utilized in the long run.
Benoit Robitaille underwent particular coaching in Germany to function Alstom’s Coradia iLint prepare in Charlevoix, Quebec.
Franca G. Mignacca/Global News
“It’s definitely a step in the direction of what we want to demonstrate in these beautiful Charlevoix landscapes,” she stated.
Although the Coradia iLint technically has a high pace of 140 km/h, security laws for the world solely permit the prepare to go as much as 60 km/h, and meaning taking the prepare between the 2 cities takes about double the time it could with a automobile.
But the Train de Charlevoix is geared towards vacationers, and Belley says most select to take it for its views of the St. Lawrence River and mountains.
The hydrogen-powered prepare seats 120 passengers at a time, and thus far this season it’s averaging a 60 per cent occupation fee.
“It’s a very enjoyable train, it’s extremely quiet, very comfortable and there is no smell of diesel whatsoever,” stated Todd Lukaszewski, who travelled from New Hampshire.
The Train de Charlevoix boasts views of the St. Lawrence River and the area’s mountains.
Franca G. Mignacca/Global News
But some vacationers weren’t as impressed.
“The train has been conceived certainly for inner-city commute, not inter-city commute,” stated Johanis Scherrer, a vacationer from Switzerland. “This is not tourist train comfort. This is commuter train comfort.”
Belley provides the Train de Charlevoix is generally extra in style amongst older folks, however the addition of the hydrogen-powered prepare has attracted a youthful demographic.
“They come discover Charlevoix while keeping in mind they’re discovering a region without emitting greenhouse gas emissions,” she stated.
Johanis Scherrer, who travelled from Switzerland, says the brand new prepare isn’t snug sufficient for longer journeys.
Franca G. Mignacca/Global News
Alstom, the corporate behind the prepare, is hoping to make use of the pilot mission as proof hydrogen-powered autos are the way in which of the long run in North America.
The concept is to ultimately use hydrogen-powered trains as an alternative choice to diesel in areas the place putting in electrified rails can be a problem.
The CAQ authorities has additionally repeatedly touted inexperienced hydrogen as a part of its transition to a greener economic system.
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