California Expands Fleet of Hydrogen Trains With New Purchase

  • Caltrans announced a $127 million agreement to purchase trains
  • Funding comes from $10 billion zero-emission vehicle package

A worker refuels a hydrogen fuel cell powered prototype railway train.

Photographer: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg
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The California Department of Transportation announced on Wednesday a $127 million agreement with Stadler Rail AG to expand its fleet of zero-emission, hydrogen-powered passenger trains.

The six train purchase agreement increases California’s arsenal of hydrogen trains to a total of 10, and furthers the state’s goal to bring all of its railroads down to zero-emissions. Funding for the new trains will come from a $10 billion, multiyear zero-emission vehicle package that was implemented by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2022 to accelerate the state’s transition away from fossil fuels.