The trains are to be built by the French industrial group Alstom and operate on either hydrogen or electricity when overhead catenary wires are available, a joint statement said on Thursday.
They are designed to run up to 600 kilometres on each hydrogen charge, and "should begin service in 2025," Alstom France head Jean-Baptiste Eymeoud was quoted as saying.
The contract is worth 190 million euros for the 12 first trains, which are to seat 218 passengers and be divided evenly among the four regions in eastern and southern France.
.@SNCF poursuit ses actions pour la décarbonation du ferroviaire et commande à @AlstomFrance les 12 premiers trains bi-mode électrique - hydrogène en France. 🌱🚄
— Groupe SNCF (@GroupeSNCF) April 8, 2021
Une étape historique, soutenue par les régions @auvergnerhalpes, @bfc_region, @regiongrandest et @Occitanie. 🇫🇷
Alstom first tested prototypes in Germany three years ago and has now begun a commercial phase with 41 orders for the 72-metre-long trains.
They are designed to combine onboard hydrogen with outside oxygen via a fuel cell mounted in the roof that powers the motors.
Zero CO2 emissions
"This is another step towards 'zero emissions' in public rail transport," the French-language statement quoted Christophe Fanichet, head of SNCF's Voyageurs unit, as saying.
SNCF currently operates 1,100 regional express trains that use diesel fuel, and which it plans to phase out by 2035.
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It is also testing alternative technologies based on batteries and a "green" fuel made from colza.
Hydrogen is considered a leader in the race to develop sustainable energy sources and slash carbon emissions.
But it is expensive to produce and the electricity needed generates a lot of carbon dioxide emissions or other pollutants.
(with AFP)
