Stadler announced that its Flirt H2 train has been entered into the Guinness World Records database for the longest distance of 2,803 km (1,741.7 miles) achieved by a pilot hydrogen fuel cell electric multiple unit passenger train without refueling or recharging.
The world record journey started in the evening of March 20, 2024 where the train set out for its first laps around the test track. The team of engineers from Stadler and ENSCO continued driving the vehicle in shifts throughout the night and following day and concluded the successful attempt at 5.23 p.m. (MST), on March 22 , 2024. Altogether, the train travelled 2,803 km for over 46 hours on one tank filling.
Close to completion of testing, the company was eager to prove the reliability and capability of this innovative train. To do so, an attempt to set a new records title for the range of the hydrogen train without refueling or recharging was undertaken under the close watch of the Guinness World Records adjudication team.
The Flirt H2 multiple unit for San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) is Stadler’s second Guinness World Records title winning train with alternative propulsion. In December 2021, the Flirt Akku train, the battery-powered Flirt model, set the world record for the longest journey with a battery multiple unit in pure battery mode, covering 224 km in Germany.
Thanks to Stadler’s innovative propulsion solution, the Flirt H2 is able to operate all day without refuelling. The train offers seating for 108 passengers and additional generous standing room. The maximum speed is 130 km/h. Furthermore, the train is designed to handle operation in high ambient temperatures of up to 49 degrees Celsius.
Stadler had presented its Flirt H2 train the public for the first time at InnoTrans 2022 in Berlin. A significant number of detailed solutions were developed to integrate fuel cells and hydrogen storage systems into the modern Flirt commuter train product line. These solutions have since been tested thoroughly, first in Switzerland and more recently on a dedicated test ring in Colorado in the United States.
Stadler’s Flirt H2 hydrogen train has been well received on the market. In addition to a recent order of further hydrogen Flirt for California, Stadler is the first train manufacturer in the world to produce narrow-gauge hydrogen trains. In Europe, the Italian rail operators Ferrovie della Calabria (FdC) and ARST have already redeemed options, which means that Stadler is contracted to now supply a total of 15 hydrogen-powered vehicles in Italy.
In 2023, Caltrans, the Transport Authority of the State of California, has ordered four Flirt H2 and executed an option for another six Flirt H2 in early 2024. These trains will have a higher passenger capacity than the ones for SBCTA and consist of four cars and a power pack in the middle car.
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