China Halts Operation of its First Hydrogen Tram Line: What Happened and How Will This Affect the Project?

The first hydrogen tram line in China, which opened in 2019 in the city of Foshan, has ceased operations, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

This decision was made by the operator, Gaoming Modern Rail (GMR), due to insufficient passenger traffic over an extended period.

Ukraine at InnoTrans 2024: Innovations in Transport Technologies and Key Companies in the National Pavilion

There are currently no plans to resume operations, and the possibility of permanently discontinuing the use of hydrogen trams on this route is even being considered.

The 6.5-kilometer-long line was serviced by five hydrogen trams, each capable of carrying up to 394 passengers at speeds of up to 70 km/h.

The trams were manufactured by the Chinese company CRRC Qingdao Sifang, and the hydrogen fuel was supplied by the Canadian firm Ballard.

Refueling took place at the Zhihu depot, where two trams could be serviced simultaneously.

The suspension of this line raises questions about the profitability of hydrogen transportation.

Despite its environmental benefits and potential, insufficient demand casts doubt on the effectiveness of using such technologies in real urban passenger traffic conditions.

Meanwhile, interest in hydrogen transport remains strong outside of China.

In August 2023, South Korean manufacturer Hyundai Rotem signed a contract with the city of Daejeon to supply 34 hydrogen trams of the H2 model.

These trams will operate on a new metro line currently under construction.

The delivery of the trams is scheduled for 2026-2028. In addition to the rolling stock, Hyundai will provide the route with signaling and traffic control systems. The contract is valued at an impressive $201 million.

Thus, despite the temporary challenges associated with the introduction of hydrogen technologies in urban transport, interest in them continues to grow.

South Korea, like China, is striving to implement environmentally friendly transportation solutions that could become the foundation for the sustainable development of future cities.

Photo: Ballard

Rail business, industry, and railway technology news from Railway Supply that you might have missed:

Network Rail Launches a Major Rail Cleaning Campaign in Scotland: New Technologies and Drones