IARNRÓD Éireann (IE) and Latvia-based DiGas Group have signed a €1.5 million contract to test the feasibility of hydrogen as an alternative power for its locomotive fleet.
The GM 071 Class locomotives are fitted with 2450hp 645-12 two-stroke power units, and this will be modified to use hydrogen to test feasibility and cost effectiveness of such a project. IE is confident that the project will be successful, stating that “the collaboration will demonstrate a practical path towards complete decarbonisation of the diesel locomotive fleet and all design and testing will be subject to approval from the Commission for Railway Regulation (CRR)”.
IE will provide one of its 18-strong GM 071 Class and workshop facilities, while DiGas will design, manufacture and install the retrofit equipment and oversee the commissioning.
The two-year project will start next year with the initial testing to be conducted within the workshop, and if that is successful the locomotive will undertake main line trials during 2025.
IE’s decision to undertake the hydrogen trial follows its recent orders for battery electric multiple units (BEMUs) and electric multiple units (EMUs), and
