Alstom, a global leader in sustainable transport solutions, has completed the first-ever journey of a shunting locomotive converted from diesel to hydrogen power in Salzgitter, Germany. The conversion is part of a joint effort between Alstom, VPS Verkehrsbetriebe Peine-Salzgitter GmbH (a subsidiary of Salzgitter AG), WTZ Roßlau gGmbH, TU Braunschweig, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films. The project receives support from the city of Salzgitter, which has contributed 1.5 million euros from a larger 50 million euro structural aid package provided by the state of Lower Saxony.
“This project marks another step forward in bringing hydrogen technology to rail transport,” said François Muller, Vice President Services for Central and Northern Europe at Alstom. The converted locomotive, now powered by direct combustion of hydrogen without CO2 emissions, will undergo industrial testing at Salzgitter Group’s steel production sites until October 2025. The trial aims to evaluate how well the technology performs in daily operations and explore its potential for future widespread use. After the test period, the locomotive will be restored to its original diesel setup.
Switching shunting locomotives from diesel to hydrogen offers significant carbon reduction opportunities. VPS currently operates 42 diesel locomotives to move ore, coal, pig iron, and steel within its network. Germany alone uses about 1,000 diesel shunting locomotives, with roughly 4,000 across Europe. Each diesel locomotive typically remains in service for 50 to 70 years, producing approximately 150 tonnes of CO2 annually. By converting to hydrogen, a locomotive could save up to 3,000 tonnes of CO2 over 15 to 20 years—equivalent to the emissions of around 650 cars or the carbon captured by planting 200,000 trees.
François Muller added, “This hydrogen conversion provides an eco-friendly upgrade option that allows customers to keep their current fleet while eliminating emissions, especially important given the long lifespan of these vehicles.”
Frank Klingebiel, Mayor of Salzgitter, highlighted the city’s role: “Salzgitter is rightly called Germany’s transformation capital. With major investments in green steel production, a new battery cell plant, and hydrogen research, we are driving industrial change. Our support for this locomotive project demonstrates our active role in shaping a cleaner future.”
Astrid Paus from the Braunschweig Regional Development Office praised the project as a valuable use of government funds for innovation and climate protection, calling it a model others should follow. Dr Johannes Dreier, Managing Director of VPS, noted, “This hydrogen locomotive test fits perfectly with our group’s transition to low-carbon steelmaking through the SALCOS program, as we seek sustainable solutions for our logistics operations.”
Dr Christian Reiser of WTZ Roßlau gGmbH said, “Our expertise in combustion and system engineering helped bring the hydrogen engine from the lab to the tracks. We look forward to its testing phase, driven by the goal of a greener future.”
Prof Dr Peter Eilts from TU Braunschweig explained, “Hydrogen’s ability to burn with excess air lets us optimize combustion for efficiency while reducing nitrogen oxide emissions—a key challenge we successfully addressed during the engine’s redesign.”
