At the beginning of 2020 there will be a test with a hydrogen train between Groningen and Leeuwarden. That made the province of Groningen, Arrives, PRORAIL, Alstom en Engie known during the Climate Summit Northern Netherlands on October 31 in Sugar Factory in Groningen. With the trial, they want to investigate whether hydrogen trains are a suitable way to make train transport in Groningen more sustainable.

The Coradia iLint, as the train is called, is already being tested in Germany. According to the makers, it is the first train that runs entirely on hydrogen cells. According to the initiators, the Netherlands has about 1000 kilometers of track without electric overhead wires. The aim of the test is to investigate whether hydrogen trains are a suitable solution for making train transport in Groningen more sustainable.

The hydrogen train test should take place in the first quarter of 2020. The hydrogen train tests will be carried out at night on the track between Groningen and Leeuwarden. This happens without passengers. The five organizations involved want to gain practical experience with the trial.

Various tests have already been carried out with the hydrogen trains in Germany. Two prototypes of the trains ran last summer with scheduled passengers between Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Bremervörde and Buxtehude. 

This hydrogen train pilot is a new step in making public transport in Groningen smarter and greener. If the test is a success, the province of Groningen wants to run new trains on hydrogen from 2023. 

Also read: € 18,5 million European subsidy for rail connections