Siemens Mobility will begin testing its two-car hydrogen-powered train in Bavaria from mid-2023, with the goal of entering the train into passenger service in January 2024.
This is thanks to the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) by the Bavarian State Ministers for Economic Affairs and Transport and representatives from Siemens Mobility and Bayerische Regiobahn (BRB).
“The train is another important component in Bavaria’s hydrogen strategy. My ministry is promoting research, development and applications in the field of hydrogen technology. We’re organising this rail project together with our partners because we’re convinced that hydrogen technology will make a significant contribution to decarbonising transport. We’ll prove in Bavaria that business and climate protection can be reconciled with green hydrogen.”
Siemens Mobility’s hydrogen-powered train is being developed on the basis of its Mireo Plus H platform. It’s designed to operate on non-electrified rail lines and has a range of up to 800km.
The main components of the hydrogen traction drive are two fuel cells mounted on the roof, and the system uses the latest generation of batteries from the Saft company, installed beneath the floor.
The pilot operation will initially last for 30 months on BRB’s rail network. Testing will take place on, amongst others, the Augsburg–Füssen route, with the train stationed in Augsburg during this time.
“Within the Transdev Group, to which we belong, there’s already a lot of experience I the bus sector with alternative drives. We agreed to test hydrogen technology and the Siemens Mobility train in passenger service because we’re curious and open to alternative forms of propulsion in the railway sector as well.”
