The emergence of technologies to keep various transportation modes moving, such as electric vehicles and sustainable aviation fuels, does not address the time-consuming need to stop and recharge or refuel. Fortunately, progress in extending the operating range of alternatively fueled transit has just been posted: A hydrogen fuel-cell passenger train has traveled for two days for a distance of 1,741.7 miles (2,803 km) without refueling.

The Flirt H₂ passenger train developed by Swiss rail vehicle maker Stadler Rail is designed to replace diesel-powered trains on non-electrified or partially electrified networks, and features two motor-driven end cars with a hydrogen tank and fuel cells in between. The fuel cells feed energy to an onboard battery, which powers the electric drive. Hydrogen fueling can support extended travel on rail lines that cannot support electrification and can overcome battery range limitations for long-haul service.

The feat demonstrated at the ENSCO test center in Pueblo, Colorado, in March 2024 has been entered into the Guinness World Records database for the longest distance achieved by a pilot hydrogen fuel cell electric multiple unit passenger train. This is the second such record for Stadler, as its battery-powered FLIRT model set the world record for the longest journey with a battery multiple unit in pure battery mode, traveling 139 miles (224 km) in Germany.

A Flirt H₂ model supplied to the San Bernadino County Transportation Authority in California— set to be the first hydrogen train in the U.S. — is fitted with 12 fuel cells of 100 kW each, implying an overall hydrogen powertrain of 1.2 MW.