The Italian railway operator Ferrovie della Calabria (FdC) has commissioned three new narrow-gauge hydrogen trains from Stadler

The Italian railway operator Ferrovie della Calabria (FdC) has commissioned three new narrow-gauge
hydrogen trains. The order is part of the framework agreement signed in 2023 for up to 15 hydrogenpowered trains, set to run on regional and local transport networks in the Italian region of Calabria.
Stadler is the first train manufacturer in the world to produce narrow-gauge trains with hydrogen
propulsion. It is also supplying six for ARST and five for passenger transport in California.

At the beginning of the new year, FdC and Stadler signed the second call-off for the delivery of three more
hydrogen trains for the narrow-gauge network (950 mm), for operation on regional and local transport routes
within the Italian region of Calabria from 2026. The three new hydrogen-powered vehicles will complete the
FdC fleet commissioned under the framework agreement, which was signed in July 2023. The agreement
between Stadler and FdC includes the delivery and maintenance of a total of 15 trains with hydrogen
propulsion. The first call-was for the delivery of six trains. Both vehicles already on order, as well as the new
ones, will be manufactured at Stadler’s headquarters in Bussnang,Switzerland.
The signing of the second call-off is testament to the role Stadler is playing in the decarbonisation of
rail transport in Italy. Stadler is the world’s first railway manufacturer to develop and produce hydrogenpowered narrow-gauge multiple units.
Ernesto Ferraro, CEO of FdC, expressed his satisfaction with the further agreement with Stadler: “The
additional trains ordered from Stadler, with whom we have had a fruitful cooperation for years, are a further
investment towards the company’s ongoing modernisation. The purchase of a further three hydrogen-powered
trains, in addition to the six already commissioned, and the other investments underway, including those for
modernising and speeding up the railway infrastructure, renewing the rolling stock on the road, building the
hydrogen production plant, and innovating the company’s technology and infrastructure, represent the
concrete implementation of the company’s strategies launched with the ambition to become a modern and
sustainable transport company within the next three years. These goals are now possible thanks to the synergy
created with the Region of Calabria, the company’s sole shareholder, and with the relevant Ministries, which
have made available the necessary resources to support the industrial plan that the company is pursuing, and
to whom our thanks go.”
Aristide Vercillo Martino, FdC’s Investment Manager – PNRR – IT, added: “The project launched in recent years
as part of the ecological transition, with a project to use hydrogen as a new fuel for its means of transport, and
a total investment of more than 400 million euro, confirms the company’s desire to become a leader in regional transport and to provide more services to users, with innovative processes and in line with the objectives that
a modern company must set itself. The synergy created over the years with Stadler will make it possible to
accelerate the processes initiated to improve rail services in the area.”
Ansgar Brockmeyer, Executive Vice President Marketing & Sales at Stadler said: “We are very proud that FdC
has once again commissioned Stadler to supply additional trains. In partnership with FdC, we are driving
forward the decarbonisation of rail transport in Italy. The new narrow-gauge hydrogen trains are a world first
and pave the way to sustainable rail transport on narrow-gauge lines worldwide. We thank FdC for the trust
and look forward to deepening our partnership with them.”
Maurizio Oberti, Marketing & Sales Director for Italy, commented: “This additional order consolidates Stadler’s
positioning in Italy. The entire portfolio of Stadler products and vehicles has already been acquired by several
Italian regions and operators, from trams and metros to long-distance vehicles and locomotives. This is a
remarkable achievement for Stadler.”
More about the trains
The vehicles consist of two passenger cars and a power pack. The cars feature lightweight aluminium
structures to make the train’s more energy efficient. The power pack houses the fuel cells and hydrogen tanks,
as well as other technical equipment.
With a total length of around 50 metres, the new trains offer 89 seats per vehicle for a total of 155 passengers.
Thanks to their low-floor access, they are fully accessible not only for people with reduced mobility, but also
for passengers with pushchairs and bicycles. The new vehicles also offer specific areas near the access and
exit doors and a PRM toilet compliant with TSI standards

Sustainability on track
Stadler’s alternative drive solutions makes rail travel more environmentally-friendly, even in places where there
was previously no alternative to diesel. In addition to battery-powered trains, Stadler is developing hydrogenpowered rail vehicles, enabling emission-free operation on routes without overhead lines. The FdC contract in
Italy will see Stadler design and manufacture the first hydrogen-powered narrow-gauge multiple unit for the
Calabria region. Two other regions in Italy have already chosen Stadler’s sustainable railway solutions. The
new hydrogen-powered narrow-gauge trains for FdC are expected to enter service in 2026.