3 Ways Trains are Becoming Greener Than Ever

By Felicity Bradstock - Jan 19, 2025

The world's first carbon fiber metro train launched in China, boasting reduced weight, energy consumption, and carbon emissions.

Italy's IronLev tested a maglev train prototype on existing rail infrastructure, potentially lowering deployment costs.

The U.S. launched its first zero-emission passenger train, powered by hydrogen fuel cells, joining other countries exploring hydrogen rail technology.


Governments and private companies worldwide are racing to find innovative ways to decarbonise transport. This has resulted in the deployment of several new passenger train technologies worldwide. While some are investing in carbon fibre trains, others are looking to alter train tracks to boost efficiency or are exploring the potential for hydrogen fuel cell technology.

This month, the world's first carbon fibre metro train was launched in Qingdao, Shandong province, in China. The Cetrovo 1.0 Carbon Star Express is the first passenger train to be constructed mainly using ultra-strong and light carbon fibre. Conventional metro carriages are built using steel, which is much heavier and takes more energy to move. State-owned CRRC Qingdao Sifang instead opted for carbon fibre, which is now widely used in high-end sports cars to boost their performance. The firm began investing in the research and development for the Cetrovo in 2021 and created several prototypes before the official launch.

The new Cetrovo is around 11 percent lighter than similar conventional trains and is thought to require around 7 percent less energy to power, which could equate to cutting around 130 tons of carbon emissions a year. Carbon fibre is around five times stronger than steel, making the new trains more rigid and impact-resistant. Rides on the metro are also said to be smoother and quieter thanks to the reduction in vibration. During the pilot phase, the Cetrovo reached a speed of 87 mph, which is higher than the 50 mph average of China’s existing metro transport.

In 2024, the Italian firm IronLev carried out the first test of its magnetic levitation (maglev) train, aimed at reducing the costs and energy use of rail transport. The company deployed a one-ton prototype, travelling at a speed of 43 mph over a 2 km journey near Venice. The Maglev technology provides a cushion of air that separates the train from the track, which can help reduce friction, noise, and vibrations. The lack of friction helps decrease the energy demand significantly, as well as lessen maintenance costs.

The technology was deployed in China around two decades ago, although it has not yet been rolled out on a wide scale. While several countries, including Japan and Germany, have explored the potential for maglev systems, the high development costs and incompatibility with existing track systems have deterred many from deploying the technology.

Massimo Bergamasco, the director of the Institute of Mechanical Intelligence at the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Pisa, stated, “The test carried out by IronLev represents the first and only case of magnetic levitation applied to an existing railway track without requiring the modification or integration of accessory elements.”

This varies from most previous tests carried out in other countries where researchers constructed made-for-purpose tracks to use the maglev technology. The use of existing rail infrastructure in Italy shows the potential for the rollout of the technology at a significantly reduced cost.

One of the most sought-after technologies for passenger train transport is hydrogen fuel cells (HFC). Various companies around the globe are investing in the development of HFCs for cars, trucks, trains, and maritime transport in a bid to massively decarbonise passenger transport. As hydrogen is a versatile carrier that can be used for a wide range of applications, many view it as key to decarbonising heavy industries that cannot be powered using other renewable energy sources alone.

Last year, the U.S. launched its first zero-emission passenger train, in San Bernardino, California. The $20-million Zero Emission Multiple Unit (ZEMU) has a 108-passenger capacity and is expected to commence a full service early this year. ZEMU is North America’s first self-powered, zero-emission passenger train to meet Federal Railroad Administration requirements, according to the San Bernardino County Transit Authority (SBCTA). It will serve a 9-mile route with five stops and could encourage the development of other routes if deemed successful.

The train was built by the manufacturer Stadler in Switzerland before being shipped to the U.S. It uses hybrid hydrogen and battery technology for propulsion and to power onboard electrical systems. It is powered by blue hydrogen and emits only water vapour. SBCTA hopes to eventually use green hydrogen to power the train, which is made by using renewable energy to power electrolysis. Germany was the first country to launch a hydrogen-powered train in 2018. The U.K. is also testing hydrogen train technology and France has ordered hydrogen-powered vehicles for its rail system, with operations expected to commence in 2025.


With various innovative train technologies being developed and tested around the globe, there is great optimism about the potential to decarbonise passenger train travel in the coming decades. However, achieving this decarbonisation will require significant investment and the trialling of several different systems to see which works best for a widescale commercial rollout.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com