Stadler H2 train achieves Guinness World Record title

Railway rolling stock manufacturer Stadler Rail AG (Bussnang, Switzerland) has been entered into the Guinness World Records for the longest distance achieved by a pilot hydrogen fuel cell electric passenger train — with multiple units — without refueling or recharging. The company’s Flirt H₂ train, which has a hydrogen storage system that uses 350-bar Type IV pressure vessels, traveled a total of 1,741.7 miles (2,803 kilometers).

The Flirt H₂ was presented to the public for the first time in Berlin in 2022. Stadler notes that a significant number of detailed solutions were developed to integrate fuel cells and hydrogen storage systems into the modern commuter train product line. These solutions have since been tested thoroughly, first in Switzerland and more recently on a dedicated test ring in Colorado in the U.S.

Close to completing its testing, the company was eager to prove the reliability and capability of its innovative train. To do so, an attempt to set a new records title for the range of the hydrogen train without refueling or recharging was undertaken under the close watch of the Guinness World Records adjudication team.

The world record journey started the evening of March 20, where the train set out for its first laps around the test track. The team of engineers from Stadler and ENSCO continued driving the vehicle in shifts throughout the night and following day and concluded the successful attempt at 5:23 p.m. (MST) on March 22. Altogether, the train traveled for more than 46 hours on one tank filling.

“This world record establishes the ideal performance range of our hydrogen version of the best-selling Flirt Electric Multiple Unit, the Flirt H₂,” Dr. Ansgar Brockmeyer, EVP of marketing and sales at Stadler, says. “This is a monumental achievement from our entire team and we are proud to hold another record title.”

The Flirt H₂ for San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) is Stadler’s second Guinness World Records title-winning train, showcasing alternative propulsion. In December 2021, the Flirt Akku — the battery-powered Flirt model — set the world record for the longest journey with a battery multiple unit in pure battery mode, covering 224 kilometers in Germany.

In addition to a recent order of further hydrogen Flirt vehicles for California, Stadler is contracted to supply a total of 15 hydrogen-powered vehicles in Italy for Italian railroad operators Ferrovie della Calabria (FdC) and ARST.