Technical Paper
Circumstances of Railway Transport Hydrogenization in Poland
2020-09-15
2020-01-2131
Hydrogen Fuel-Cell (HFC) technology is popular in Asia (mainly Japan), the US (chiefly California) and Europe. HFC is mostly used in passenger cars and urban buses. HFC technology is also being introduced to railway transport. Hydrogen-powered trains are an attractive alternative to diesel trains, in particular on nonelectrified railways - where roughly 70% of the world’s 200 000 locomotives operate today - and in the markets of Europe and the US (together about 55 000 diesel locomotives today). Besides avoiding carbon emissions, hydrogen trains reduce noise and eliminate local emissions of NOX and particulates. Since they use significant amounts of hydrogen, the required infrastructure is limited and can be immediately utilised. Hydrogen-powered trains are already being introduced for light-rail vehicles and regional railways - such as the trams produced by the China South Rail Corporation.