What new trains can railfans expect in the 2020s?

One full year into the new decade, Railfans around the world continue to look at what’s to come in the world of locomotives and rolling stock. As time moves on and railroads and railways become confined to the same sets traversing the tracks, changes are most certainly welcome and with both freight and passenger services advancing their requirements for cleaner, larger and quieter trains, it is always exciting to see what’s on the horizon for a number of routes across the world. A rendering of the Hydrogen trains expected in California by 2024. Credit: Stadler

The environment is a major concern for train operators looking to refresh their stock and Hydrogen power is quickly becoming a viable technology for hauling passengers. In California, contracts have already been signed to introduce the curiously named ‘Flirt H2’ sets to a former freight line at San Bernadino by 2024 and may see, in time, the DMU / EMU acronyms we’ve come know and love joined by the HMU: Hydrogen Multiple Unit. Elsewhere in the USA, the existing EMU format is being implemented with new units by Stadler expected sometime in 2021. Currently they’ve been undergoing testing at the plant in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The urban commute is also looking forward to a revamp in the UK, with the world-famous London Underground set to renew the stock on the Piccadilly Line. 94 new units have been commissioned by TfL and show much larger windows, sleek lights and a spacious interior which all promotes the aim of increasing capacity during the mid-2020s. This will mainly be facilitated by running more trains on each of the lines that will eventually receive the units, equating to more than 21,000 extra passengers per hour. With the prospect of HS2 also getting closer by the day, the potential for more new, shiny consists and locomotives running up and down Britain similarly becomes of interest to railfans there. New tube for London. ©Transport for London

Some deals have yet to be done however and in the heart of Europe, plans are afoot to introduce a new batch of freight locomotives to the Czech Republic, courtesy of ČD Cargo. Up to 26 new locos could be on the rails by 2022 and would be seen across a number of neighbouring nations including Hungary, Austria, Germany, Slovakia and Poland. This is in addition to a raft of shunting units also ordered in the Czech Republic as part of a vast renewal of rolling stock over the next decade. Czech railfans will be treated to the sight of these additions to the network within a couple of years.

Similarly, railfans keen to spot and photograph stock across the routes traversed by DB Cargo’s services in Germany will be treated to up to 400 new locomotives over the coming decade. An investment of over €1 billion and a contract struck with Siemens Mobility will see this huge number of units delivered in stages to bolster operations on both the mainline and with shunting. A staple locomotive of the 2010s across Europe, the Vectron is set to be joined by newer models throughout the new decade. Photo of Siemens Vectron 193 331 in Germany by EM311 CC-BY-SA 4.0

Perhaps one of the biggest investors in their future railways is China, with one manufacturer CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles making up to 190 new vehicles per year. As well as laying thousands of miles of track in recent years, the Chinese rail network also plans to make use of ‘gauge-changing’ stock that cross international borders where line gauge varies. The potential for this to allow stock to travel to areas previously not viable is an interesting one for the enthusiast as foreign locomotives and consists become a familiar sight in decades to come. New trains wait at CRRC Qingdao Sifang. Photo by N509FZ CC-BY-SA 4.0

And in other parts of the world, there’s potential for a railfan genesis, with countries in the Middle East like Qatar making plans to expand into intercity and freight rail from their origins in rapid transit and metro systems in major cities. The Gulf Railway is an ambitious future scheme to link six nations together with long distance rail, thus allowing countries like Oman, which does not currently have an active rail network, to grow its use and appreciation of trains.

It would seem, therefore, that the future is bright for railfans wherever they might live across the globe. Though current and aging stock will forever have the preservation community to hold on their chances of continued use for pleasure, seeing new locomotives, new trains and investment in rail also bodes well for investment into the hobby. There’ll be plenty of railfanning yet to come.