Photo: Siemens Mobility
Seven Mireo Plus H hydrogen trains, built by Siemens in Krefeld, are now completing their first kilometers on a test track in Wegberg-Wildenrath. Accompanied by extensive testing, they will be gradually put into operation.
The two-car hydrogen trains will operate on the Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn (NEB) network. Following testing of basic electrical and mechanical functions at the Krefeld plant, more in-depth tests are now being conducted at the Wegberg-Wildenrath testing and validation center. These include electromagnetic compatibility and brake tests, which are necessary for vehicle certification and operational stability. Final approval by the relevant authorities, such as the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) and the German Federal Railway Authority (EBA), will only be granted after successful completion of these tests. Starting in mid-2024, NEB's train drivers will also receive their training in Wegberg-Wildenrath. "Thanks to its long range, rapid acceleration, and state-of-the-art technology, the Mireo Plus H will set new standards for emission-free rail transport in the Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan region," says Albrecht Neumann, CEO of Siemens Mobility Rolling Stock. "We are pleased that we are on schedule," adds Detlef Bröcker, Managing Director of Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn.
This is the first series order for a train fleet powered by hydrogen technology. Progress is also being made on an order for 31 Mireo Plus B trains for the East Brandenburg network: the first battery-powered train is scheduled to leave the Siemens plant in Krefeld in the new year and will also be transferred to the test center
The use of hydrogen vehicles on the Heidekrautbahn railway is part of a scientifically supported pilot project funded by the federal government and the states of Berlin and Brandenburg to build a regional, sustainable hydrogen infrastructure, which also includes a hybrid power plant and a refueling station.
All train operations on the RB27 line will be powered exclusively by green energy – generated from renewable sources and regionally. The switch from diesel to hydrogen on the Heidekrautbahn line will reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 3 million kg annually and save 1.1 million liters of diesel.
