CAF, a train and LRV maker, has acquired a three-car electric multiple unit, the Class 463 Civia, from Spanish national operator Renfe for conversion into a hydrogen fuel cell demonstrator.
The research will be conducted by a consortium comprised of ADIF, the National Center for Hydrogen, Infraestructuras de Portugal, Faiveley Stemmann Technik, Toyota Motor Europe, and the German research group DLR.
The FCH2Rail partnership has committed 14 million euros to the project, which will design, develop, and test a hydrogen-powered train prototype.
The project is anticipated to be completed in mid-2022. The train will thereafter be tested on a variety of electrified and non-electrified routes, the locations of which are yet to be determined.
