The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has activated a Preliminary Market Consultation to study the use of green hydrogen on non-electrified railway lines and compare this option with other fossil-fuel-free technologies. The open-ended initiative requests industry proposals and technical evidence to define how to displace the diesel traction for cleaner solutions in several corridors of the General Interest Railway Network.
The goal is to evaluate whether it is appropriate electrify sections complete or opt for alternative systems - such as hydrogen or battery-powered trains - in areas where overhead lines are not viable in the short term. This action is part of the commitments of the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (RRM) and in the new Indicative Strategy, whose development is expected to be completed in 2026.
What the consultation studies and why it focuses on green hydrogen
The General Directorate of the Railway Sector collects information from operators, manufacturers and suppliers on alternative technologies to diesel, their infrastructure requirements, operating costs and limitations. The procedure, published in the Public Sector Procurement Platform, remains open until 30:23 p.m. on September 59th and, if appropriate, may be extended without any contractual commitment for participants.
For green hydrogen, trains are analyzed with fuel cell that transform hydrogen into electricity to power electric motors, emitting only water vapor. This option can be combined with catenary on electrified sections, allowing flexible operations on mixed lines and offering a alternative when the full electrification is expensive or complex. Learn more about the use of green hydrogen in public transport at this link.
The Ministry is also considering other solutions: trains batteries rechargeable under catenary, hybrid schemes (electric with battery and/or hydrogen) with strategic electrification at key points, and even the use of biofuels or e-fuels in adapted diesel fleets. However, the orientation The main objective of this consultation is to promote technologies that significantly reduce dependence on diesel and cut emissions in real service.
This process also seeks to guarantee transparency, equal treatment and non-discrimination between sector agents, integrating industrial knowledge into the design of solutions effective and realistic for a more attractive railway for passengers and freight.
Non-electrified lines under evaluation
The consultation focuses on six conventional corridors where the implementation of green hydrogen traction and other alternatives to diesel, as well as the possibility of total or partial electrification depending on its technical and economic feasibility:
- Ávila–Salamanca
- Torralba–Soria
- Huesca–Canfranc
- Cáceres–Valencia de Alcántara
- Zafra–Huelva
- Mérida–Los Rosales
Currently, of the 11.672 kilometers Of the conventional network managed by Adif, 6.719 km (57,5%) are electrified, leaving 4.953 km (42,5%) without overhead lines. On the high-speed network, the route totals approximately 3.976 km, of which 94,2% (about 3.748 km) are electrified, reflecting the work still pending to modernize conventional corridors. The technology of the green hydrogen engine may be especially relevant in these cases.
Participation is open to natural or legal persons, public or private, interested in contributing their knowledge to define investments and deadlines. With the contributions received by September 30, the DGSF will feed the analyses that will make up the Indicative Strategy in progress, aimed at accelerating the decarbonization of rail transport through solutions operational and scalable.
La green hydrogen traction It is seen as one of the most promising options for decarbonizing non-electrified lines, complementing overhead lines where it is most cost-effective and facilitating an orderly transition from diesel to a more sustainable and competitive rail service that meets European climate goals.
