the world's first train that runs on natural gas

Renfe started yesterday in Asturias the tests with the first train that will circulate around the world propelled with liquefied natural gas in order to verify the viability of the vehicle to provide commercial service in the network of narrow gauge trains in the region.

In the project, in addition to the public railway company, Gas Natural Fenosa, Enagás and Bureau Veritas participate. Its objective is to verify the viability of the train and its environmental and economic advantages in order to replace traffics currently made with diesel traction in Spain. The Minister of Public Works, Íñigo de la Serna, and the Minister of Energy, Tourism and Digital Agenda, Álvaro Nadal, attended the first circulation of train tests, which took place between the Asturian towns of Mieres and Figaredo.

The promotion of this type of railway vehicles is part of the decarbonisation and energy efficiency plan of Renfe and Adif, as well as the strategy of driving the Vehicle with Alternative Energies (VEA) in Spain 2014-2020. It is also in line with the objectives of the future climate change law. The railroad consumes half of all the electricity used in the transport sector in Spain (45.8% of the total), according to the Ministry of Energy.