The newly developed Mireo Plus H, the next-generation hydrogen-powered train, and a newly designed mobile hydrogen storage trailer were unveiled at the Siemens plant in Krefeld as part of DB and Siemens Mobility’s innovative complete system.
The train and its new infrastructure are designed to take the place of diesel multiple-unit trains in commuter and regional transportation, resulting in zero CO2 emissions.
The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport is funding the “H2goesRail” project with €13.74 million from the National Innovation Program for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NOW GmbH) (BMDV). NOW GmbH coordinates the funding guideline, which is carried out by project lead Jülich.
The Mireo Plus H for the H2goesRail project is a two-car train with an operating range of up to 800 kilometers, is as powerful as its electric multiple-unit counterpart, has 1.7 MW of traction power and a top speed of 160 kilometers per hour. The range of a three-car version is up to 1,000 kilometers.
A quick refueling process is one of the most important requirements for making hydrogen technology competitive with diesel fuel in daily operations. To do so, DB has developed a new method that allows a hydrogen train to be refueled as quickly as a diesel-powered train for the first time. This is especially important given DB’s regional passenger service’s tight schedule. Hydrogen trains will be competitive in daily operations due to their quick refueling.
Hydrogen trains are a particularly environmentally friendly mode of transportation because they run on green hydrogen and emit only water vapor. When compared to a diesel-powered train, the hydrogen train in the H2goesRail project will save around 330 tons of CO2 in a year on the Tübingen-Pforzheim route. Depending on the route profile, the Mireo Plus H can save 520 tons per year on average (calculated on mileage of 200,000 kilometers).
DB will produce the hydrogen in Tübingen using green electricity directly from the overhead power line. The DB maintenance depot in Ulm will be fully equipped to service the train.
In 2023, Baden-Württemberg will begin testing the Mireo Plus H. The hydrogen train for the H2goesRail project with Deutsche Bahn will provide regular passenger service between Tübingen, Horb, and Pforzheim during its planned passenger service in 2024, replacing a diesel train.
The H2goesRail project and the Mireo Plus H will also be on display at InnoTrans 2022, the world’s largest trade fair for railway technology, which will be held in Berlin.
