Replacement for diesel trains: Bavaria plans to test more hydrogen trains from 2026

Bavaria plans to expand the test operation of hydrogen trains despite some skepticism about the technology. Three hydrogen trains are expected to be deployed in Upper Bavaria on the route from Mühldorf to Burghausen starting in December 2026, according to the Bavarian Ministry of Transport. A hydrogen-powered train has already been in trial operation from Augsburg since the end of 2024.

The technology is intended to help find environmentally friendly alternatives for routes without overhead lines. The state government aims to end the use of diesel trains on non-electrified lines by 2040.

Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter ( CSU ), however, is not yet convinced that hydrogen is the best technology for this: "Hydrogen trains could also be an alternative. However, they are very expensive, and their operation is plagued by breakdowns throughout Germany." Further action will depend on the experience gained from the test operation, he says.

Bernreiter makes it clear that he currently considers retrofitting the railway lines with overhead lines and operating battery-powered trains to be a better solution. According to the ministry, there are currently plans to electrify approximately 1,000 kilometers of railway lines. 680 kilometers of these are included in the current Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan, and the Free State itself is planning overhead lines for additional lines with a total length of approximately 330 kilometers.

"The electrification of all routes in Bavaria remains the long-term goal," the ministry reports. However, given the costs and limited planning capacity, this will "only be achievable in the very long term."

Hydrogen trains could serve as a temporary solution until then. The test train already in use has been running for more than six months with the Bavarian Regional Railway from Augsburg either to Füssen in the Allgäu region or to Peißenberg in western Upper Bavaria. However, when the test train needs to be taken to the repair shop, it will be replaced by diesel trains.

However, detailed information on how the trial operation is progressing is not available from either the operator or the manufacturer, Siemens Mobility. "Overall, reliability is good, but there were isolated technical challenges, which are not unusual in a new system," reports a Siemens spokesperson.

Since only one vehicle is available, a traditional availability measurement like that used for larger fleets is not practical. According to Siemens, the primary goal is to test the technology under real-world operating conditions. However, the high availability of the Mireo Plus H hydrogen trains is evident on the Heidekrautbahn Berlin-Brandenburg line, where several trains are in daily operation.

Meanwhile, Bavaria is already planning to increase the use of battery-powered electric trains. The Free State has decided that several routes in Swabia and the Bavarian Forest will be served by such trains in the future.

Charging stations are being built in several locations for this purpose. However, the trains can also be charged if they travel part of their journey on overhead lines.

At one point, it was also considered that combined electric-hydrogen railways could be used in the Allgäu region, for example. However, this idea was later rejected.

According to the ministry, a report has shown "that combining battery and hydrogen propulsion in one vehicle would be technically very complex and associated with high risks." In addition, an expensive supply and refueling infrastructure for the hydrogen would have to be built.

© dpa-infocom, dpa:250818-930-924048/1