BRUSSELS, November 2025 — In late November 2025, Alstom announced that it is halting further development of hydrogen‑powered trains. The decision appears driven by two main factors: first, the withdrawal of national co‑funding by France, which cuts off matching support from the EU; second, real‑world operational experiences with hydrogen fleets that revealed serious reliability and cost‑efficiency problems.

While Alstom will honor existing orders ensuring delivery to clients in Germany, France, and elsewhere the company has suspended future hydrogen‑train R&D and is reallocating its engineering staff and resources toward more promising traction technologies. This shift reflects a growing industry consensus that for rail decarbonization, battery‑electric trains and traditional overhead‑wire electrification currently offer more reliable, efficient, and cost‑effective pathways particularly for non‑electrified regional lines where hydrogen had been pitched as a diesel alternative.

Hydrogen trains are not being labeled a technical failure per se, but their scalability, economic viability, and infrastructure demands appear too challenging under current market, policy, and technical conditions. For now, the focus in Europe is returning toward modes of electrification with more predictable performance, easier integration, and lower lifecycle costs.

Source: Alstom’s Hydrogen Retreat Marks A Turning Point For European Rail - CleanTechnica