SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — The first hydrogen-powered passenger trainset in the U.S. will enter revenue service this Saturday, Sept. 13, the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority has announced.
The train will debut on the 9-mile, five station Arrow corridor between San Bernardino and Redlands, Calif., and on its first day will offer zero-fare rides. The Redlands Daily Facts reports it is scheduled to make its first departure from San Bernardino at 10:32 a.m.; the Arrow schedule is available here.
The Zero-Emission Multiple Unit, or ZEMU, trainset is a hydrogen fuel-cell version of Swiss manufacturer Stadler’s FLIRT (Fast Light Innovative Regional Train), also known by the manufacturer as the FLIRT H2. The trainset debuted at InnoTrans in Berlin in 2022 [see “Stadler unveils first …,” Trains.com, Sept. 21,2022]. It arrived in Southern California in June 2024 after extensive testing in Europe and at the Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colo. [see “Hydrogen trainset arrives …,” Trains.com, June 2024]. It has been undergoing further testing in San Bernardino County since then.
“Saturday will mark a historic day for SBCTA,” Rick Denison, the Authority’s board president, said in a press release. “ZEMU is proof of our commitment to improving regional air quality, embracing innovation, and expanding clean-air transit options throughout the county. I look forward to riding ZEMU and am excited for residents and visitors to experience this train firsthand.”
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