The Italian company Ferrovie della Calabria has ordered three more hydrogen-powered narrow-gauge trains from Swiss manufacturer Stadler.
Ferrovie della Calabria (FdC) has ordered three new narrow-gauge hydrogen trains from Swiss group Stadler, following the framework agreement signed in summer 2023 for up to 15 H2 vehicles to be used for regional and local transport in the southern Italian region.
Nine hydrogen-powered narrow-gauge
With this new contract, the number of trains that FdC has already ordered from the Swiss manufacturer – the first to build narrow gauge (950 mm) hydrogen trains – brings the total to nine, with deliveries scheduled to start in 2026 (the first six were ordered in July last year when the framework contract was signed). The 950 mm gauge is known as the Italian gauge, coming from measuring it on the inside of the rails, as opposed to measuring the distance between their centres, which would give 1000 mm.
The vehicles will be built at Stadler’s production plant (which will also supply six hydrogen trains to ARST in Sardinia) in Bussnang, Switzerland.
“The trains ordered from Stadler, with whom we have had a fruitful collaboration for years, represent a new investment in the continued modernisation of the company. The purchase of three more H2 vehicles, in addition to the six already purchased, as well as other ongoing investments (among the main ones are those for the modernisation and acceleration of the railway infrastructure, for the renewal of rolling stock on the road, for the construction of the hydrogen production plant and for corporate and infrastructural technological innovation), represent the concrete implementation of the corporate strategies launched with the company’s ambition to become a modern and sustainable transport operator within the next three years. These objectives are now possible thanks to the synergy created with the Region of Calabria, the company’s sole shareholder, and with the relevant ministries, which have made available the necessary resources to support the industrial plan that the company is pursuing and to whom we are grateful,” says Ernesto Ferraro, sole director of FdC.
Ansgar Brockmeyer, Stadler’s Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales, added: “We are very proud that FdC has commissioned Stadler to supply additional trains. With our vehicles we are promoting, together with Ferrovie della Calabria, the decarbonisation of rail transport in Italy. In addition, the new hydrogen-powered narrow-gauge trains are a world first and pave the way for sustainable rail transport on narrow-gauge lines around the world. We thank the FdC for their trust and look forward to a continuation of our cooperation.”
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