Ferrovie della Calabria (FdC), the Italian railway operator has made an order to Stadler for three more hydrogen-powered trains.

These narrow-gauge trains are intended for Calabria, Italy, where they will operate on both regional and local transport networks, within this country. These trains are part of an agreement that was signed in 2023 and this agreement includes a maximum of fifteen hydrogen-powered trains.

These trains have been ordered by Italy, as for the past two years the country has been developing their decarbonisation strategies for their railway networks. They have trialled different strategies, including other orders to other manufacturers for hydrogen-powered trains. Stadler’s hydrogen-powered trains are manufactured at Stadler’s headquarters in Bussnang, in Switzerland.

So far, the agreement between FdC and Stadler has proved effective, as it was at the beginning of 2024 that the three extra hydrogen-powered locomotives were ordered. This brings the Italian company’s total train capacity up to nine. These trains are due to enter operations on regional and local transport routes during 2026.

Executive Vice President Marketing and Sales, Ansgar Brockmeyer, said that Stadler is “driving forward the decarbonisation of rail transport in Italy.”

CEO of FdC, Ernesto Ferraro, commented, “The purchase of a further three hydrogen-powered trains, in addition to the six already commissioned, and the other investments underway, 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 FdC is pursuing.”

FdC’s Investment Manager – PNRR – IT, Arstide Vercillo Martino, mentioned, “The project launched in recent years as part of the ecological transition, to use hydrogen as a new fuel for its means of transport and a total investment of more than €400m ($435m), confirms the company’s desire to become a leader in regional transport and to provide more services to users.”