The Bavarian government has announced its decision to abandon plans to purchase hydrogen trains with tilting bodies for the Allgäu network in the northeast of the region. Instead, the state will opt for battery-powered trains.
Bavaria’s Ministry of Transport justified the decision by citing lower costs for development, procurement, and operation, as well as the elimination of the need for hydrogen infrastructure.
“More powerful batteries allow us to do away with additional hydrogen propulsion. This makes our train fleet technically simpler and far more economical. Additionally, we can avoid building infrastructure for hydrogen delivery and refueling,” said Bavarian Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter.
The decision is based on expert assessments indicating that combining battery and hydrogen propulsion in a single train would be overly complex and expensive, particularly as battery technology advances, allowing for longer ranges without the need for hydrogen.
However, the shift to battery-powered trains will require infrastructure upgrades, including the construction of charging stations, partial electrification of routes, and modernization of the existing overhead network.
Bavaria plans to completely replace its tilting-body train fleet, which currently accounts for around 10% of regional rail transport. By the early 2030s, all remaining diesel-powered trains will be phased out.
Additionally, local authorities are considering abandoning the tilting-body technology altogether, despite its advantages in navigating winding mountain routes more efficiently.
