Spain: The contract worth €845,000 has been signed between Ciudad de la Energía, a government fund, and Progener, a local manufacturer of marine engines.
The latter is to equip the narrow-gauge 2100 Series rail car with a hydrogen propulsion system. Progener will also take charge of the maintenance of the new engine. However, the deadlines for the project’s implementation are not disclosed, neither it is clear which company is going to perform the overhaul of the rolling stock.
Similar projects, when hydrogen and ammonia are used as alternative fuels for internal combustion engines, are also implemented in Namibia, Ireland and Australia. Propulsion systems of the same type are tested by Japanese companies, Nippon Sharyo and JR Central, as well.
The 2100 rail car was produced in 1957 by Billard, France, and was operating on 1,067 mm lines at a maximum speed of 70 km/h. In 1986 the vehicle was decommissioned.
