ZEMU hydrogen-powered train
Project Overview
Opportunity
The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) is expanding its public transit network with the Redlands Passenger Rail Project. The Redlands project will open with diesel multiple unit rail vehicles to serve communities and job centers between Redlands and San Bernardino in Southern California.
As the SBCTA expands passenger rail service in communities east of Los Angeles, it also seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by replacing the diesel vehicles with zero emissions multiple unit (ZEMU) trains by 2025.
Solution
On behalf of the SBCTA, Mott MacDonald prepared a grant application that won $30 million from the California Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program. The money was allocated for research, development, and implementation of a ZEMU vehicle, and eventually the conversion of the existing vehicles.
We then evaluated zero emissions technologies including alternate fuels, batteries, hydrogen fuel cells, and hybrids. In July 2019, the SBCTA’s board unanimously approved the implementation of a hydrogen fuel cell and battery hybrid vehicle.
Mott MacDonald is currently supporting the SBCTA by overseeing the vehicle manufacturer Stadler, which will design and manufacture the vehicle that will operate on the planned Redlands corridor. We are also identifying and developing conceptual designs for the supporting infrastructure, and working with federal, state, and local agencies to obtain compliance with regulations and requirements. Once approved, the ZEMU will be easily expandable throughout the freight and commuter rail system without major capital investment, such as building catenary.
Outcome
Once in operation, the ZEMU vehicle will be the first hydrogen fuel cell-battery hybrid passenger train in North America. The zero emissions trains will improve air quality in the region and demonstrate the potential greenhouse gas reductions and other benefits that this technology could offer throughout California and the United States.
(Rendering courtesy of SBCTA and Stadler.)