Hydrogen-fueled passenger train, Alstom Coradia Ilint, to showcase eco-friendly propulsion in Quebec.

Alstom's Hydrogen-Powered Train to Debut in Quebec

In a significant step towards sustainable transportation, Alstom, in partnership with the Government of Quebec, Chemin de fer Charlevoix, Harnois Energies, and HTEC, will conduct a passenger service demonstration project for the Coradia iLint in Quebec.

The Coradia iLint, a hydrogen-powered passenger train, will make its debut in Quebec on February 2, 2023. This marks a historic moment as Quebec will be the first jurisdiction in the Americas to run a train with zero direct emissions powered by green hydrogen.

The initiative is a perfect fit with the corporate social responsibility plan of Chemin de fer Charlevoix, which includes a sustainable mobility component. For François Legault, Premier of Quebec, the project serves as an extraordinary showcase for Quebec's developing green hydrogen ecosystem.

The Coradia iLint first entered commercial service in Germany in 2018 and has travelled over 220,000 kilometres in eight European countries. To date, 41 trainsets of Coradia iLint have been ordered by clients in Europe.

Harnois Energies, a company involved in green hydrogen production, will produce the green hydrogen needed to power the Coradia iLint at its Quebec City site. Designed for non-electrified lines, Coradia iLint allows for safe, clean, and sustainable operations.

The project aims to help Quebec achieve its ambitious climate change targets and generates significant reach for the Charlevoix region, which is at the heart of Chemin de fer Charlevoix's organizational vision. The train will carry passengers on the Réseau Charlevoix rail network during summer 2023, at the heart of a UNESCO-listed biosphere reserve.

Alstom's innovation centre in the Americas is dedicated to the development of rail mobility solutions with low or zero emissions for the North American market. The Coradia iLint stands out for its combination of innovative features: clean energy conversion, flexible energy storage in batteries, smart traction, and energy management.

Quebec's efforts to position itself as a centre of expertise in sustainable transportation on the continent will receive a boost with this project. The innovations demonstrated in the project could potentially be exported elsewhere in the world. Michael Keroullé, President of Alstom Americas, aims to make Alstom the first to introduce hydrogen trains in the Americas.

The project in Quebec will test a first-ever green hydrogen ecosystem dedicated to rail transportation in America. As the Coradia iLint demonstrates green traction in Quebec, it will contribute to Quebec's mission of promoting sustainable development and innovation in the rail industry.

Hydrogen-fueled passenger train, Alstom Coradia Ilint, to showcase eco-friendly propulsion in Quebec.