Under the contract, Stadler will build four state-of-the-art hydrogen-powered trains for the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) and Caltrans, with the option to purchase up to 25 additional trains.
This new contract follows a partnership between Stadler and the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) to develop the first hydrogen-powered train in North America. This vehicle is set to start operations in Southern California’s Inland Empire in 2024.
The vehicle was recently presented to the world at two international events: InnoTrans 2022 and APTA EXPO 2023, where it attracted the attention of industry partners, transport operators, railway enthusiasts and environmentalists.
Stadler’s new hydrogen train has been extensively tested in both Switzerland and the USA, proving its performance and reliability. The successful tests have led to an unprecedented decision by CalSTA and Caltrans to continue this innovative path together with Stadler.
The contract represents the next phase of the collaboration, in which an advanced SBCTA model with increased transport capacity will be introduced. It demonstrates Caltrans and CalSta’s unwavering commitment to investing in cutting-edge technology that will help California achieve its ambitious goal of zero-emission rail transportation.
“With its vehicles and services, Stadler has set itself the goal of helping to make travel in North America more environmentally friendly. Very few railway lines in the US are electrified, which is why solutions like the FLIRT H2 are so important here,” said Ansgar Brockmeyer, EVP of marketing and sales, Stadler Group.
Martin Ritter, CEO of Stadler US, added, “Our development of the battery fuel cell train is changing the US rail vehicle industry for alternative propulsion systems and combining typical Stadler top quality and reliability. We’re driving innovation that transforms not only rail, but the nature of sustainable transportation in America.”