Stadler Flirt Hydrogen MUs for Amtrak California

[SubwayNut]

It's looking like Stadler may be providing Flirt Hydrogen Multiple (HMU?) Unit trainsets for Amtrak California powered by Hydrogen Fuel a Memorandum of Understanding Signed to purchase up to 25 units to operate statewide based on their FLIRT trainsets. a press release (picked up by trains magazine). These will be 4 car long trainsets based on a 2 car Hydrogen Powered Fuel set that was just manufactured for the Arrow Commuter Rail in San Bernardino County (its other trainsets will be diesel).

Anyone know how many trainsets the 3 Amtrak California routes need today? These Flirt's feel like too short trains for the Surfliner?

 

[GDRRiley]

this is enough for San Joaquin and maybe ACE+ theres a new shuttle proposed near King to porterville and lemoore.

CC and Surfliner both need ~20-25 sets which would need to be far bigger. a 6-8 car FLIRT maybe big enough for the CC while the surlfiner would probably need 10 cars. Both of them should just be put under wire

 

[Just-Thinking-51]

Read the trains story this is a test set order with options. “The first four new ZEMUs will be used in the Central Valley between Merced and Sacramento(.)”

 

[danasgoodstuff]

Hydrogen, what could go wrong? Hopefully, the've got this figured out. But I couldn't resist.

 

[GDRRiley]

Read the trains story this is a test set order with options. “The first four new ZEMUs will be used in the Central Valley between Merced and Sacramento(.)”

the test one is already produced and will begin testing soon. Arrow (metrolink) has one

 

[Tlcooper93]

Boy America will do just about anything to avoid electrification.

 

[GDRRiley]

Boy America will do just about anything to avoid electrification.

of the ~100 that California are likely to order in the next few years I'd expect about 2/3 to be battery+OCS hybrids with the rest being hydrogen.

 

[Tlcooper93]

of the ~100 that California are likely to order in the next few years I'd expect about 2/3 to be battery+OCS hybrids with the rest being hydrogen.

I suppose I meant overhead electrification.

 

[GDRRiley]

I suppose I meant overhead electrification.

while this order isn't most of the other ones should support electrification with batteries for certain stretches

 

[Tlcooper93]

while this order isn't most of the other ones should support electrification with batteries for certain stretches

In my opinion, electrification with batteries is a short-sighted undertaking at best.

The pros for battery rail tech are penny wise and pound foolish.

 

[GDRRiley]

In my opinion, electrification with batteries is a short-sighted undertaking at best.

The pros for battery rail tech are penny wise and pound foolish.

I'll use the SLO plan because its a decent example, the coast sub will likely get bi hourly service from surfliner and a coast daylight in this section with SLO being the start/termination for both.
it would share ~30 miles of mainline track with them before going off onto a shortline for the final 9 miles. With every 30 min peak and hourly off peak its easy enough to justify running wires on the mainline however the spur is a lower value.