In February 2023, the world’s number two in rolling stock manufacturing, Alstom, announced it would demonstrate its hydrogen multiple unit in Canada. During the summer of 2023, the Coradia iLint will carry passengers on the Réseau Charlevoix rail network, along the St. Lawrence River, between Parc de la Chute-Montmorency and Baie-St-Paul. Quebec’s Reseau Charlevoix network, where it will run, is at the heart of a UNESCO-listed biosphere reserve. In mid-May, Alstom showed pictures of the two-car unit already delivered to Canada. Starting in June, the tests should last between three and four months.
This test makes Quebec the first American region to run a train on green hydrogen. The project is a collaboration of the Quebec government, Chemin de fer Charlevoix, Train de Charlevoix, HTEC, and Harnois Énergies. The last-mentioned company will produce the hydrogen needed to power the iLint unit.
Alstom introduced this trainset five years ago. So far, 41 of these hydrogen-powered trains have been ordered. Coradia iLint, capable of reaching a speed of 140 km/h, is also a record-holder for the hydrogen-powered distance travelled by train without refuelling, with 1,175 kilometres.
For Alstom, this paves the next steps for the potential North American market, where it competes with Stadler. During Innotrans 2022, the Swiss manufacturer signed an agreement to deliver four hydrogen FLIRT trains to California with local authorities CalSTA and Caltrans. An option of 25 additional units was a part of this deal.
Chemin de fer de Charlevoix is a 125 km shortline railway from Quebec City to La Malbaie along the St. Lawrence River. Since 2015, it has been operated by a commercial association Réseau Charlevoix, with three second-hand, former DB Class 628 diesel multiple units.
