ARST, the regional transport company in Sardinia, Italy, has recently awarded the tender for the supply of the first 6 hydrogen trains for the new rail connections between Alghero and Sassari/Sorso and the Alghero-Fertilia “Riviera del Corallo” airport.
This is a fundamental step in the energy transition process promoted by the Region of Sardinia and implemented by ARST, with the aim of progressively “decarbonising” local public transport on the island, in line with the environmental objectives set at European and national level. This process has already been launched in Alghero with the introduction of the first 4 electric buses, followed, by 2024, by other means for the environmentally friendly replacement of the entire bus fleet.
Hydrogen trains with non-reimbursable funds
Now the process continues with the new trains financed by European non-reimbursable funds, worth around €78 million. The additional resources previously financed, foreseen for the whole project, will be used for the construction of an environmentally friendly hydrogen production plant and for the construction of a new railway section of around 7 kilometres, called Mamuntanas-Aeroport, for which the contract has already been published and will be awarded soon.
The new hydrogen trains, supplied by Stadler and with a length of 50 metres, are to be delivered by December 2026. They will be able to run at speeds of up to 100 km/h and accommodate up to 170 passengers. This initiative is an important step towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly transport system in Sardinia.
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