Project Information
WIVA P&G HyTrain
Fundamentals for implementing hydrogen trains
The background to the WIVA P&G HyTrain research project is the regional development project ‘Zillertalbahn 2020+ energy-autonomous with hydrogen‘. It has been under development since 2016 as part of the green hydrogen economy currently being established in Central Europe. The necessary activities are also bundled in numerous competitive projects at the hydrogen research centre ‘HyWest’ at the Green Energy Center Europe in Innsbruck.
Since 2020, the Climate and Energy Fund of the Ministry of Climate Protection has also been funding research into the fundamentals for the development and realisation of the world’s first narrow-gauge hydrogen train, which is to become a reality with the Hydrogen Valley Zillertal.
The nationally funded flagship project is part of the Austrian Hydrogen Initiative WIVA P&G and includes the evaluation of quality assurance and risk management parameters for the development and implementation of a hydrogen propulsion system, including the refuelling of the train with green hydrogen.
WIVA P&G HyTrain research history and background
2007
The Zillertal region began to work on the sustainable development of the valley under the working title ‘Five Stars for Regions’. Transport (mobility and accessibility) was identified and defined as one of the six fields of action for the work of the Zillertal Planning Association
2008
Regional Development Programme of the Zillertal Planning Association ‘Zillertal Declaration’.
2014
Tyrol decides to become “energy self-sufficient” by 2050. Politics and business are working on the step-by-step realisation of this strategic goal, for which the ‘Zillertal Hydrogen Region‘ has been developed as part of the central project ‘Zillertalbahn 2020+ energy-autonomous with hydrogen’.
2018
After a detailed examination of the various options and presentations to politicians, the Supervisory Board decides to realise the new Zillertalbahn 2020+ as the first narrow-gauge railway in the world to run on hydrogen.
2019
.Worldwide tender with evaluation of the results and decision to award the realisation of the hydrogen narrow-gauge railway to the Swiss company Stadler Rail. At the same time, the project is presented to the general public:
– The new Zillertal Railway.
– Visualisation of the overall project.
– The new Zillertal Railway, how the hydrogen drive works.
– The new Zillertal Railway on rails by 2022
2020
National Government Programme 2020-2024 “Out of Responsibility for Austria” page 125 “Promotion of new technologies and pioneering projects in local public transport, such as a hydrogen railway to the Zillertal”.
2021
The Region of the Zillertal decides “The Zillertal Mobility Plan“.
2022
Tyrolean Government Programme 2022 to 2027 page 54 ‘…. Rapid realisation of the Zillertal hydrogen railway’.
2023
The “Zillertal Hydrogen Region“, an essential building block for the Establishment of Austria’s First Regional Green Hydrogen Economy as part of f the green hydrogen economy in Central Europe.
Development of a
Holistic Mobility Concept
In ‘WIVA P&G HyTrain’, research is being conducted into high-performance train applications with use cases all over the world. These include, for example, suburban trains with high acceleration capacity. The hydrogen drivetrain is being tested on the Hydrogen Centre Austria (HyCentA) test bench and is planed to be used in real operation with an electric railcar on the Zillertalbahn. This pilot project is intended to advance research in the field of hydrogen trains. The aim is to gather important experience for the risk-minimised and quality-assured use of hydrogen trains for the decarbonisation of public transport.
Implementation of
Green Public Transport
Climate protection means prioritising public transport and therefore also emission-free trains on non-electrified branch lines. With ‘WIVA P&G HyTrain’, a fuel cell powertrain is being developed for a regional train that is to be powered by green hydrogen from the region. The related demonstration project is to be developed in the tourist destination of Zillertal and will be an internationally visible sign of expertise in green hydrogen applications ‘Made in Austria’.
Building the
Bridge to a Clean Energy Future
There is no alternative to hydrogen when it comes to restructuring the energy system because it can be used as a transitional energy carrier in various forms. The ‘WIVA P&G HyTrain’ project is therefore an important building block in the construction of a bridge to a CO2-free and low-noise energy and tourism future and should also help to secure Austria’s leadership in the field of ecological tourism.
HyValley Zillertal – the hydrogen ecosystem
