South Korea Hydrogen Trains: 600km Range, 2028 Launch - News and Statistics

Aug 9, 2026

South Korea is advancing plans to commercialize hydrogen-powered trains that can travel more than 600 kilometers on a single charge, according to Hydrogen Central. The initiative comes as global environmental regulations push the rail sector toward cleaner propulsion alternatives.

Hydrogen trains generate electricity onboard by combining stored hydrogen with oxygen in a fuel cell, eliminating the need for overhead power lines. This design allows operation on non-electrified routes where traditional electric infrastructure is impractical. The technology emits only water and produces roughly half the carbon dioxide per kilometer compared to conventional diesel trains, which emit 19 kg of CO2 per kilometer versus 9.1 kg for hydrogen models.

The global hydrogen train market is projected to expand at an average annual rate exceeding 25 percent, reaching $26.4 billion by 2035. Several countries have already launched or planned hydrogen rail services, including Germany, France, Scotland, China, Japan, and the United States.

South Korea has initiated a research and development project to build hydrogen infrastructure on existing operating lines and conduct trial runs. The project, backed by 32.1 billion won through 2027, is led by Korail and the Korea Railroad Research Institute. It will establish hydrogen refueling stations and maintenance facilities on non-electrified lines, verify performance by running hydrogen electric multiple units alongside current services, and develop technical standards and operating regulations.

Trial runs are scheduled on the Gyooe Line and the Gyeongwon Line before commercial service begins in 2028. The demonstration vehicle is designed to deliver 1.2 MW of output, reach a top operating speed of 150 km/h with a design speed of 165 km/h, and cover more than 600 km per charge as a two-car set. The train is expected to be built in 2027 and undergo safety certification before entering service. Candidate routes include the Gyeongwon Line between Yeoncheon and Baengmagoji Station (21 km) and the Gyooe Line between Daegok and Uijeongbu Station (30.3 km). A multipurpose hydrogen refueling station at Yeoncheon Station is planned to serve trains, buses, and passenger cars.

The Korea Railroad Research Institute is also developing a liquid hydrogen train with a range more than twice that of conventional hydrogen models. Liquid hydrogen, stored below minus 253 degrees Celsius, offers higher storage density and transport efficiency than high-pressure gaseous hydrogen. The institute has developed an onboard liquid hydrogen supply system that integrates pressure, flow, and temperature controls into a compact unit, reducing volume by 10 percent and weight by 5 percent. The system powers four 95 kW fuel cells, totaling 380 kW, and is ready for installation on trains.

Researchers indicated that regulations for hydrogen vehicles already exist, but an institutional foundation for a broader hydrogen mobility ecosystem is still needed. They also noted that advancing fuel cell technology could eventually extend hydrogen propulsion to high-speed rail. The liquid hydrogen train targets a 1.6-fold improvement in range and a 20 percent reduction in refueling time compared with foreign gaseous hydrogen trains operating at 700 bar.

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