photo: Siemens Mobility/Siemens' Mireo Plus H for Bavaria; illustrative picture
The Mühldorf hub won’t run on fumes much longer. Siemens’ hydrogen trains are rolling in, and Bavaria’s railways are about to go full zero-emission.
Siemens Mobility has started production of the hydrogen-powered trains that will begin operating on the Südostbayernbahn network in late 2026. The order is for three 2-car Mireo Plus H trains. Ordered by the state of Bavaria, the ultra-modern hydrogen trains will replace diesel trains currently operating from the network’s Mühldorf hub and significantly reduce CO2 emissions as well as noise and exhaust gas in the region.
The new trains will feature nine spaces for bicycles, special high-frequency-permeable windows for improved mobile phone reception, and comfortable car access thanks to their low-floor design. Equipped with the European Train Control System (ETCS), the Mireo Plus H ensures maximum operational safety and efficiency. Along with the series contract, Siemens Mobility was also awarded a service contract for the trains’ hydrogen supply system.
Read more
PKP CARGO’s freight empire is crumbling. With coal volumes shrinking, market share collapsing, and a EUR 560 million loss on the books, Poland’s largest…
Hydrogen Rail in Action
The hydrogen trains will serve eight stations on the Mühldorf (Upper Bavaria) – Tüßling – Burghausen non-electrified route, which is 32.3 kilometers long. Deutsche Bahn (DB) will build an electrolysis plant in Mühldorf that will be 100-percent powered by green electricity.
"We are proud to be delivering Mireo Plus H hydrogen trains to Deutsche Bahn and thus enabling emission-free mobility in our home region," said Andre Rodenbeck, CEO Rolling Stock at Siemens Mobility. "Our hydrogen trains feature mature technology and high energy efficiency."
"Hydrogen trains are an important building block for DB on its path to achieving climate neutrality," said Cornelia Würtz, Managing Director of DB RegioNetz Verkehrs GmbH. "By introducing the Mireo Plus H, we are helping drive the climate-friendly rail transport transition at Südostbayernbahn."
Read more
Beneath the tracks of Rail Baltica, a new kind of movement is underway—one that safeguards biodiversity, cuts transport emissions, and unites the…
A Green Tech Powerhouse
The Mireo Plus H is a state-of-the-art hydrogen train based on Siemens Mobility’s proven regional train platform, which is available with electric, battery, or hydrogen-powered drives. On the hydrogen-powered variant, a roof-mounted fuel cell and lithium-ion batteries installed beneath the car floor ensure operation completely free of CO2 emissions.
With its hydrogen supply system and electric drive, the train has a high drive power of 1.7 MW that enables it to accelerate up to 1.1 m/s² and reach a top speed of 140 km/h. The train has a range of up to 1,200 kilometers on a single tank of fuel, depending on route topography and driving style. The trains also have low lifecycle costs and a rapid fueling function, allowing refueling in approximately 15 minutes. The Mireo design, based on an integrated lightweight aluminum structure, is both energy-saving and environmentally friendly.
Hydrogen trains are acknowledged as an environmentally friendly alternative to diesel and offer key benefits: they emit only water vapour during operation, can operate on non-electrified lines, and are quieter than diesel trains thanks to electric power and reduced mechanical noise.
Read more
Why build solar farms when the tracks are already laid? Switzerland’s new solar railway pilot proves that rail infrastructure can double as clean power…
Source: Siemens Mobility Press Release