At the Demikhovsky Machine-Building Plant in Orekhovo-Zuyevo, Moscow Region kicked off The assembly of Russia's first passenger train powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The cells will use the reaction of oxygen and hydrogen to generate electrical energy, producing only pure water vapor.
The project is being implemented in cooperation with the Tver Freight Car Building Plant (Transmashholding) and with the participation of Rosatom State Corporation, Russian Railways, and the Sakhalin Oblast government under a 2019 agreement. The model 62-4584 train is designed specifically for non-electrified sections of Sakhalin's railways and will become an important element of the Eastern Hydrogen Cluster. The development is supported by a 400 million ruble subsidy from the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade.
The train's power plant operates by reacting hydrogen with atmospheric oxygen, generating electricity for the traction motors and onboard systems; the only byproduct is water. The power plant consists of four PEMFC fuel cells, each with a capacity of 110 kW, a hydrogen storage system, lithium-ion batteries, and a current converter. The range is 725 km on hydrogen and an additional 80 km on battery power. The train's design speed is 120 km/h, and its capacity ranges from 551 to 875 passengers, depending on the configuration.
The Tver Freight Car Building Plant has already manufactured and delivered four head car bodies and booster section components. The structures successfully passed static strength tests at the Tver Institute of Freight Car Building using over 250 strain gauges—more than three times the standard testing volume. The train features a low floor, wide doors, and walk-through passages, making it convenient for passengers with limited mobility and meeting modern accessibility requirements.
Assembly of the prototypes is scheduled for completion by the end of the first half of 2026, after which comprehensive testing will begin. In the first half of 2027, the trains will arrive on Sakhalin Island for certification procedures and commence operation. The project is seen as a breakthrough environmental solution for domestic railway engineering, producing no harmful emissions and contributing to the development of hydrogen technologies in Russia.
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Source: 3dnews.ru
