Train journeys through the Taunus will become more environmentally friendly in the future. Hydrogen trains from the manufacturer Alstom are to be launched on four routes. Hydrogen trains do not emit CO2 and do not require overhead lines. Federal Transport Minister Wissing is enthusiastic about the project.
Less than a month before the planned start, the first hydrogen train for the Taunus has arrived in Frankfurt. The fuel cell-powered vehicle was presented, as was the purpose-built hydrogen filling station at Industriepark Höchst in Frankfurt. With the timetable change on 11 December, the first trains of the manufacturer Alstom are to be on the road between Frankfurt and the Taunus town of Brandoberndorf.
According to Alstom, the world’s largest network with 27 hydrogen trains will be built on four non-electrified branch lines in the Taunus by spring. Identical “Coradia iLint” trams are already on the road in northern Germany.
The railcars replace old diesel vehicles in Hesse. They do not emit any carbon dioxide locally and do not require overhead lines. In fuel cells on the train roof, hydrogen reacts cleanly with oxygen from the ambient air. This produces heat, electricity for the engines and, as a waste product, water vapour.
Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing praised the pilot project as a “game changer” (german about: driving force).
Volker Wissing, Federal Transport Minister said:
Hydrogen is part of the solution, especially in heavy commercial vehicles, ships or even in rail operations.
“Thanks to H2 technology, we will also be able to operate climate-neutrally and quietly on those parts of the network where electrification would be too costly.”
Source: NTV
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