California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and Stadler signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the design and supply of four hydrogen Flirt trains to operate in California.
The agreement highlights the responsibilities and roles of each stakeholder and will lead to a contract which outlines the procurement of the zero emission multiple units, with the option to purchase up 25 units.
Stadler is the only manufacturer in North America that designs and builds rail vehicles compliant with the FRA AVT Crashworthiness Standards. The company is also one of very few original equipment manufacturers who has built a zero-emission multiple unit train powered by hydrogen fuel cell technology. This is the reason CAlSTA and CalTrans selected Stadler to deliver the emission-free and innovative trains.
Currently, Stadler has sold San Bernardino County Transit Authority (SBCTA) a Flirt H2 train in 2019 which was presented at InnoTrans on September 20. The train is intended to start passenger service in 2024 as the first hydrogen-powered passenger train in service in the United States.
“Stadler’s goal is to help make travel in North America environmentally-friendly through the vehicles and services we provide. Only very few rail lines in the US are electrified, which is why solutions like the Flirt H2 are so important here. It is great to be part of California’s move toward eco-friendly travel with another zero emission project in the state and we look forward to continue our work with CalSTA and CalTrans to make this a reality,” Martin Ritter, the CEO of Stadler US said.
The hydrogen Flirt trains are intended to be deployed state-wide in California and the MoU stands as an interim agreement for work to begin on California’s next big rail investment.
The Flirt vehicle is a single-deck multiple-unit train designed for intercity and long distance transport.
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