Italy’s record Coradia hydrogen train order gains momentum

Follow us on Google

Europe’s biggest deployment of Alstom’s Coradia hydrogen-powered regional trains is moving from contract to reality in northern Italy, as new testing and delivery milestones position the fleet to reshape low-carbon travel on key non-electrified routes.

Largest Coradia hydrogen fleet anchored in Lombardy

Publicly available information shows that Lombardy’s transport group FNM has secured up to 14 Coradia Stream H hydrogen multiple units from Alstom under a framework agreement, described in company materials as the most extensive single order for this specific hydrogen Coradia platform so far. The trains are central to the H2iseO project, which aims to create a hydrogen-based mobility ecosystem around the Brescia to Edolo corridor.

The first unit for FNM was presented in Italy and then dispatched to Germany for a comprehensive test campaign, including static hydrogen checks and low-speed dynamic trials, before returning to the Italian network. Reports indicate that this testing phase is designed to validate performance and safety on dedicated facilities before the trains encounter the more demanding operating profile of the Valcamonica line.

According to published coverage, the fleet is scheduled to enter commercial service in stages, with initial operation on the non-electrified Brescia–Iseo–Edolo line. The focus is on replacing diesel trains currently used on regional and commuter services, cutting direct carbon emissions while maintaining the flexibility of self-powered rolling stock.

The scale of the framework agreement, combined with the line-wide transformation planned under H2iseO, marks this as a flagship deployment for hydrogen rail in Europe. It also gives the Coradia Stream H platform a prominent reference project that could influence procurement decisions in other regions seeking alternatives to overhead electrification.

From prototypes to passenger service

Alstom’s hydrogen technology has already been proven in earlier projects, notably with the Coradia iLint fleet in parts of Germany, but the Italian contracts mark the first large-scale commitment to the dedicated Coradia Stream H variant. Company technical information describes the trains as offering zero direct carbon emissions, with hydrogen fuel cells feeding onboard batteries and traction systems, and a range of more than 600 kilometers between refuellings.

In Lombardy, the first Coradia Stream H unit has completed initial validation in Germany and has moved on to Italian testing, including dynamic trials over the challenging gradients and curves of Valcamonica. Local reports highlight that this phase is crucial for fine-tuning energy management, braking performance, and refuelling logistics before timetable service begins.

The trains are configured as regional multiple units with around 260 seats, designed for commuter flows rather than long-distance travel. Interior layouts, accessibility features, and digital passenger information systems are being aligned with existing Trenord services, so that the transition from diesel to hydrogen traction is largely seamless for riders.

Timelines released in various public documents indicate that regular service on the Brescia–Iseo–Edolo route is targeted around the middle of this decade. As each additional unit is delivered and commissioned, operators expect to progressively phase out older diesel stock, reducing noise and local air pollution along the line’s small towns and tourist destinations.

Hydrogen corridors reshape regional travel

Italy’s largest order for Coradia hydrogen trains is not confined to Lombardy. In parallel, the Puglia region’s operator Ferrovie del Sud Est has ordered Coradia Stream H units to replace diesel multiple units on its own non-electrified routes. Company announcements describe these trains as the first hydrogen-powered fleets for southern Italy, extending the geographic spread of hydrogen rail beyond the Alpine foothills.

These combined contracts give Italy one of Europe’s most ambitious hydrogen rail roadmaps, with multiple regions planning to anchor local “hydrogen valleys” around rail demand. Reports indicate that the refuelling infrastructure being built for the H2iseO project in Lombardy, for example, is intended to serve buses and logistics vehicles as well as trains, creating a shared ecosystem that improves utilization of electrolyser and storage assets.

For passengers, the most visible changes will be quieter trains, accelerated timetables as new rolling stock improves performance on gradients, and a reduction in diesel odour at stations and in tunnels. For regional planners, the larger effect is strategic: hydrogen rail makes it possible to decarbonise long rural lines where full electrification has been considered too costly or disruptive.

As these corridors mature, Italy’s Coradia hydrogen contracts are expected to provide case studies on whole-of-route planning, combining rolling stock, depots, fuel supply chains, and grid integration. The outcome will be closely watched by other European regions with extensive diesel-operated networks.

Industrial footprint and technology transfer

The record-sized Italian order for Coradia hydrogen trains also has an industrial dimension. Alstom designs and builds the Coradia Stream H units primarily at its Italian sites, with facilities in Savigliano, Vado Ligure, Sesto San Giovanni, and Bologna handling development, assembly, hydrogen “power car” integration, components, and signalling systems respectively.

According to company documents, this production model helps retain high-value engineering and manufacturing jobs in Italy while anchoring part of the global hydrogen rail supply chain there. It also allows Italian technicians and suppliers to develop expertise in fuel cell integration, high-pressure hydrogen storage, and related safety systems that may be applicable to other transport sectors.

The trains themselves showcase modular design, allowing different operators to specify configurations for capacity, interior layout, and onboard equipment while relying on a common hydrogen traction package. This modularity is one factor cited in recent coverage as supporting larger framework agreements, since regions can spread orders over time without redesigning the core technology.

Industry observers note that the Italian contracts arrive as Alstom adjusts its hydrogen strategy, including moves to bring some fuel cell production in-house. The concentration of hydrogen Coradia work in Italy positions the country as a testing ground for these changes, with lessons likely to influence future procurements in France, Germany, and beyond.

Global context for hydrogen-powered Coradias

While Italy currently holds the largest clustered order for the Coradia Stream H hydrogen configuration, the trains fit into a broader global shift toward alternative traction. Across Europe, regions are exploring hydrogen and battery-powered multiple units as replacement options for diesel stock where electrification is not immediately planned.

Data compiled from recent industry reports indicates that Alstom has hydrogen or hybrid Coradia platforms active or on order in several markets, with deployments in Germany and France complementing the Italian projects. The Italian framework for up to 14 units stands out by focusing on a single corridor and its surrounding hydrogen valley, providing a concentrated demonstration of the technology’s capabilities.

For the travel sector, these developments could eventually influence traveler choices. As operators promote low-carbon itineraries, rail lines using hydrogen Coradia fleets may be marketed as cleaner options for reaching mountain resorts, lakes, and historic towns along non-electrified routes. Regional tourism bodies are already highlighting the environmental benefits of shifting from private cars to upgraded regional rail.

As more units enter service and performance data accumulates, the Italian experience with large-scale Coradia hydrogen orders is likely to inform both technology standards and public perceptions of hydrogen as a rail fuel. If reliability and costs meet expectations, hydrogen-powered Coradias could become a familiar feature of Europe’s regional travel landscape over the coming decade.