PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS ON ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES FOR HYDROGEN LIGHT-RAIL TRAIN APPLICATION IN SUB-URBAN NON ELECTRIFIED ROUTES

The paper presents a preliminary feasibility analysis of a hydrogen powered light-rail train able to operate without emissions along non-electrified “complementary” rail lines. The majority of the “complementary” lines are mostly single track and were originally constructed to connect both small-medium regional centers and sub urban areas. Nowadays, the business case for electrification is almost always unfavorable and diesel traction is usually provided. New technological opportunities concerning advanced hybrid propulsion systems offer to realize a city railway transportation systems environmental friendly able to operate at high energy efficiency also along non-electrified lines. In this study we propose a preliminary novel design of an emission-free light-train (tram-train type) powered by a hybrid power unit consisting of a hydrogen fuel cells and high-speed kinetic energy storage systems. A numerical dynamic simulator of the proposed lightrail train has been developed in order to compute performance by varying system parameters with the aim to numerically verify the technical feasibility. The simulation of the proposed light-train run along a re-designed non-electrified single track line in the sub-urban territory of L’Aquila city (Italy) is reported. Finally, the hydrogen power-train and a traditional diesel train have been compared in terms of energy consumption and emissions.