Bavaria plans to push ahead with another round of hydrogen train testing next year – despite Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter (CSU) expressing doubts about the technology.
The Bavarian Ministry of Transport, once enthusiastic about hydrogen trains, has since cooled on the concept. Bernreiter admitted: “They can be an alternative, but they are very expensive, and operations across the country have been plagued by numerous breakdowns.”
Nevertheless, from late 2026, the Südostbayernbahn is set to introduce three new hydrogen-powered trains built by Siemens Mobility for the line between Mühldorf and Burghausen. While Siemens’ headquarters are in Munich-Allach, the trains are manufactured in Krefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia. In total, about a dozen hydrogen trains from Siemens are either already built or under development.
Problems with Alstom’s Hydrogen Trains
French competitor Alstom already operates hydrogen-powered railcars in Lower Saxony and Hesse. However, operators there have reported severe availability issues. The Rhein-Main Transport Association (RMV) told tagesschau.de it was “extremely angry and now very disappointed” with Alstom’s performance. Siemens, in contrast, highlights the “high reliability” of its hydrogen trains running on the Heidekrautbahn in Brandenburg, where seven such units are already in service.
Battery-Electric Trains Gaining Ground
The debate, however, goes beyond individual models. In the competition between hydrogen and battery technology, battery-powered trains are increasingly coming out ahead. Charging stations for battery trains are cheaper to install, and electricity is far less expensive than hydrogen fuel. Advances in battery technology now allow these trains to travel over 100 kilometers on non-electrified tracks.
Studies Confirm: Electric Trains Are Cheaper
Back in 2022, Baden-Württemberg announced it would no longer rely on hydrogen to replace diesel trains. A 2025 study commissioned by the Bavarian Transport Ministry reached the same conclusion: battery-powered trains are more cost-efficient to operate. As a result, the state government scrapped several planned hydrogen projects, including tilting trains in Swabia and northeast Bavaria as well as regional services in the Bavarian Forest. Regarding the Mühldorf–Wasserburg route, Bernreiter explained to Bayerischer Rundfunk: “The hydrogen trains were ordered long ago. You cannot predict how developments will unfold.”
Electrification as the Long-Term Goal
According to the study, the most economical long-term solution remains the electrification of nearly all Bavarian rail lines. “Electrification of the entire rail network in Bavaria remains the ultimate goal,” confirmed the Ministry of Transport. Current plans cover around 1,000 kilometers, with 680 kilometers included in the federal transport plan and an additional 330 kilometers proposed by the state. Given high costs and limited planning resources, however, this remains a long-term project.
For now, hydrogen trials continue. In the Augsburg region, another test train has been running for more than six months. The ministry says it will wait for results from both Augsburg and Upper Bavaria before making further decisions.
Criticism from the Greens and Passenger Groups
Green Party transport expert Markus Büchler has voiced strong criticism. He called the Burghausen trial unnecessary: “The problem is they are very expensive, and money for local rail services is already scarce. Yet Bavaria constantly demands more federal funding.” Instead, Büchler urged Bavaria to follow other states and invest in battery trains.
Passenger advocacy group Pro Bahn also expressed concerns. Spokesman Errol Yazgac said: “Testing is possible, but whether it will run smoothly is questionable. In other states, hydrogen trains have caused serious problems during regular service.” He also warned against shifting the high costs onto passengers.
Economics Ministry Refuses to Fund Project
One surprising twist is that Bavaria’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, led by Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters), a long-time supporter of hydrogen initiatives, is not funding the Mühldorf project. Nor is it backing Deutsche Bahn’s planned electrolyzer at the site, which is supposed to produce green hydrogen for the trains. A spokesperson clarified, however, that the ministry supports the initiative in principle, arguing it helps “advance the use of innovative hydrogen technologies in Bavaria while securing value creation in the Bavarian economy as part of the state’s hydrogen strategy.”
Source: dpa
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