Daejon orders hydrogen trams for 2028 operation

Daejon is a city in the central lowlands of South Korea with a population of 1.5M. It is a technology and research hub and opened its first metro line in 2007. 

 

Now 34 hydrogen-powered LRVs have been ordered from HyundaiRotem under a contract worth KRW 293.4bn; they will be delivered in 2026-2028 and have a range of 200km before refuelling. They will be used on the 38.1km tramway line 2 with 45 stops and interchange with metro line 1. 

 

The entire line will be catenary-free and should be carrying passengers before the end of 2028. The project cost is KRW 1.5tr. HyundaiRotenm unveiled a prototype of its hydrogen-powered tram in July 2023. 

 

The hydrogen fuel cell provides traction power and is used to charge a battery. It has been tested over 5000km on a 4.6km track in Daejon since October 2023. 

 

This will be the first city tram in South Korea since the Seoul system disappeared in 1968 (unless the planned 5.4km Wirye line in Seoul opens first) that will use battery trams.