Privately-owned rail freight company Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia (FCAB) has carried out Latin America’s first ever train journey powered by green hydrogen, it has announced.

A locomotive specially designed for FCAB by Chinese train manufacturer CRRC travelled from FCAB’s yard in the city of Antofagasta in northern Chile, to the city’s port facilities — a distance of approximately 2.5km.

The train is fitted with a 1MW-rated hybrid fuel cell and battery system, and is able to store 184kg of H2 on board, compressed to 350 bar.
Green hydrogen for the journey was sourced from an existing hydrogen refuelling station at the yard, which is known as “Patio Norde” (“North Courtyard”).

The journey appears to have been carried out as a test by FCAB, which is targeting a 30% reduction in the carbon intensity of its operations by 2030.

“This milestone marks the beginning of a new era for rail transport in Chile and Latin America,” said David Fernández, general manager of FCAB.

“The commissioning of our first green hydrogen locomotive is the result of years of work, the commitment of our teams, and a sustainable vision that guides every decision we make. After 137 years of history, we continue to transform ourselves to contribute to decarbonisation, innovation, and the country's energy future.”

However, the firm gave no indication of how frequently it intends to use the machine in future, or on which routes.