First Hydrogen Passenger Train Now in Service in the United States

San Bernardino, California – The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) has officially launched the first hydrogen-powered passenger train in the United States. The Stadler Flirt H2 multiple-unit train is now serving Metrolink commuter routes on the Arrow Line, connecting San Bernardino Downtown to Redlands University.

The historic inaugural journey departed from San Bernardino Downtown Station on September 13 at 10:32 a.m. The Flirt H2 is the first hydrogen passenger train in the U.S. fully compliant with Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) standards.

The two-car train features 116 seats and can reach speeds of up to 127 km/h. With a refuelling time of just 30 minutes and a range of 460 km, the Flirt H2 is designed for practical daily commuter service. During testing at the Transportation Technology Center (TTC) in Pueblo, Colorado, it set a Guinness World Record by covering 2,803 km without refuelling, the longest distance achieved by a hydrogen fuel cell multiple-unit.

Funded by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), the Flirt H2 was ordered in 2019 to complement two low-emission Stadler Flirt diesel multiple units already operating on the 14.5 km Arrow Line since 2022. After testing in Switzerland, the train arrived in the U.S. in 2023 and completed testing on the Arrow Line in late 2024.

Introducing the hydrogen train required upgrades to the Arrow Line maintenance facility, including the construction of a dedicated hydrogen storage and refuelling station, marking a major step forward in zero-emission rail transport in the United States.

SBCTA officials say the deployment of the Flirt H2 represents a milestone in clean energy transportation, reducing emissions and showcasing the potential of hydrogen fuel cell technology for commuter rail networks across the country.