Stadler Flirt H2 Sets World Record
Written by Mark Simmons, Deputy Editor, International Railway Journal
The first Stadler hydrogen powered train for San Bernardino was on display at the outside track area.
The hydrogen fuel cell-powered multiple unit travels 2,803 kilometers (1,741 miles) without refueling.
Stadler’s Flirt H2 hydrogen multiple unit has secured a Guinness World Record for the longest distance achieved by a hydrogen fuel cell multiple unit without refueling.
The train completed the record-breaking journey of 2,803 kilometers (1,741 miles) at the Transportation Technology Center (TTC) in Pueblo, Colo., where it had already undergone type testing.
Detailed readings before, during and after the world record attempt were kept to ensure precise and transparent evidence was provided, Stadler said. The record win comes after another Stadler train, the Flirt Akku, set a world record for the longest journey in pure battery mode on a single charge in December 2021. The BEMU covered 224 kilometers (139 miles).
“By using hydrogen as a clean energy source, we are actively contributing to environmental protection and shaping the sustainable and zero emission travel of tomorrow,” said Stadler US CEO Martin Ritter.
In February, Caltrans, the Transport Authority for the State of California, ordered six Flirt H2s as a follow-on order for an initial order of four trains made in 2023, bringing the total order value up to $207 million. The authority has an option for a further 19 trains.
The Flirt H2 was first presented to the public at InnoTrans 2022. It was designed and built for San Bernadino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) in the United States, which has ordered four four-car trains, with an option for 25 more.
