According to the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund transport network, this is the largest fleet of fuel cell trains in the world: 27 Alstom Coradia iLint trains should start running on regional routes in the Taunus region as of the 2022/2023 schedule change. Fahma, a subsidiary of the transport network, has a contract for 500 million euros that includes supplying the hydrogen from the Höchst industrial park as well as maintenance and delivery of reserve trains for the next 25 years. The Höchst site was chosen because it already produces hydrogen as a part of chlorine production.

German-French manufacturer Alstom’s Coradia iLint is based on one of the company’s proven diesel trains. Hydrogen tanks and fuel cells replace the diesel components, with two batteries storing the braking energy and the cell’s excess electricity. Two fuel cell trains of this type have been running on the approximately 100 km stretch between Buxtehude and Cuxhaven since September 2018.