Romania will spend 973 million euros on the procurement of 12 hydrogen-powered trains. Romania is establishing a green rail pilot project as part of its recovery and sustainability plan, which will get EU funds. The Railway Reform Authority will carry out the project.
The Romanian Ministry of Transport has previously authorized a contract for ecologically friendly cars, which covers hydrogen fuel supply as well as long-term maintenance and repair.
The 160-seat trains will run on major lines that aren’t yet electrified, such as every half hour between Bucharest Central Station and the airport, every hour between Bucharest and Pitesti, and so on.
For the time being, the compositions will go to the surrounding areas of Romania’s capital, including Targovishte, Slatina, and Craiova, but they are scheduled to travel to more remote locations in the future. Passengers will be able to join the train with their bicycles, while persons with impairments would have simple access, according to Romanian media.
Replacement of diesel trains with hydrogen fuel cell trains decreases transportation pollution by more than 18,348 tonnes of CO2 and 306 tonnes of nitrous oxide per year (preliminary estimations presently cost € 600,000 per year). According to Secretary of State Ionel Scriostianu, this helps accomplish the targets established by European and national policies to attain zero pollution by 2050.
