SAN Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) in California has launched revenue service of the first hydrogen-powered passenger train in the United States. The Stadler Flirt H2 multiple-unit is now operating Metrolink commuter services on the Arrow Line from San Bernardino Downtown to Redlands University.
The inaugural service departed from San Bernardino Downtown station at 10.32 on September 13. SBCTA says that the Flirt H2 is the first hydrogen train to be compliant with US Federal Railroad Administration standards (FRA).
The two-car train has a maximum speed of 127km/h, and a total of 116 seats. Capable of being refuelled in 30 minutes, it has a range of 460km, according to Stadler. During testing at the Transportation Technology Center (TTC) in Pueblo, Colorado, it achieved 2803km and set the Guinness World Record for the longest distance covered by a hydrogen fuel cell multiple-unit without refuelling.
With funding from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), the hydrogen train was ordered in 2019 to operate alongside two Stadler Flirt low-emission DMUs which entered service on the 14.5km Arrow Line in October 2022. Following testing in Switzerland, the Flirt H2 was shipped to the United States in 2023 and arrived in San Bernadino in mid-2024. Testing on the Arrow Line began in November last year.
Deployment of the new train has required an upgrade of the existing Arrow rolling stock maintenance facility, including construction of the hydrogen storage and refuelling facility.
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