THE State of California has exercised an option with Stadler for an additional six hydrogen-powered Flirt H2 multiple units.
The $US 127m agreement is an option under a contract signed in October 2023 and takes the total number of trains on order for the California State Transportation Agency (CalSta) and CalTrans to 10. The initial order for four trains is worth $US 80m and there are options remaining in the contract to purchase another 19.
The first of the four-car trains are scheduled to enter service in 2027 and will operate between Merced and Sacramento on the future Valley Line service. This will complement the Altamont Corridor Express commuter service and Amtrak’s San Joaquins trains, and will eventually connect with the first section of the 275km Merced - Bakersfield high-speed line, which is expected to open in 2033.
CalTrans says the trains will also be demonstrated on other lines throughout the state in partnership with inter-city and regional operators.
The order is funded through California governor, Mr Gavin Newsom’s, $US 10bn zero-emission vehicle funding package, which includes a $US 407m allocation for CalSta to purchase or lease emissions-free rolling stock and buses vehicles and their associated infrastructure.
The order builds on the initial work by the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, which pioneered the operation of hydrogen-powered trains in California. Its two-car Flirt H2 is set to enter service this year on the SBCTA’s 14.5km Arrow Line between San Bernardino Transit Center and the University of Redlands, operating alongside Stadler Flirt DMUs. This train was delivered to the United States in 2023 after being exhibited at InnoTrans in 2022 and has undergone testing in Switzerland and the United States.
“California continues to lead the way to a cleaner, more connected transportation system,” says Mr Toks Omishakin, California’s transportation secretary. “By expanding our fleet of hydrogen-powered passenger trainsets, we are showing we are serious about deploying innovative and sustainable transportation options for the people of this state.”
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