IF articles

Summary - The paper presents a preliminary feasibility analysis of a hydrogen powered light-rail train able to operate without emissions along non-electrified “complementary” rail lines.
The majority of the “complementary” lines are mostly single track and were originally constructed to connect both small-medium regional centers and sub urban areas. Nowadays, the business case for electrification is almost al- ways unfavorable and diesel traction is usually provided.
New technological opportunities concerning advanced hybrid propulsion systems offer to realize a city railway transportation systems environmental friendly able to operate at high energy efficiency also along non-electrified lines.
In this study we propose a preliminary novel design of an emission-free light-train (tram-train type) powered by a hybrid power unit consisting of a hydrogen fuel cells and high-speed kinetic energy storage systems.
A numerical dynamic simulator of the proposed light- rail train has been developed in order to compute performance by varying system parameters with the aim to numerically verify the technical feasibility.
The simulation of the proposed light-train run along a re-designed non-electrified single track line in the suburban territory of L’Aquila city (Italy) is reported.

Finally, the hydrogen power-train and a traditional diesel train have been compared in terms of energy consumption and emissions.