Mireo HMU To Be Tested In Bayern

On 12 July 2021, the Bavarian State Ministers for Economic Affairs and for Transport announced that it will support the testing of a hydrogen-powered train developed by Siemens Mobility in Bayern. The two-car Mireo Plus H is to be tested on the Augsburg - Füssen route, among others, beginning in mid-2023. The pilot operation on the Bayerische Regiobahn (BRB) network is initially planned for 30 months. A MoU was signed by Minister for Economic Affairs Hubert Aiwanger, Minister for Transport Kerstin Schreyer, and top representatives of Siemens Mobility and BRB.

The Mireo Plus H platform  has an operational range of up to 800 km. The main components of the hydrogen traction drive are two fuel cells mounted on the roof. The system uses the latest generation of Saft batteries that are installed beneath the floor. The train will be presented to the public in the spring of 2022. The first test runs in Bavaria are planned for 2023, before the train officially enters passenger service in January 2024. The HMU will be stationed in Augsburg during this time. 

Arnulf Schuchmann, BRB technical Managing Director, said: „We agreed to test hydrogen technology and to test the Siemens Mobility train in passenger service because we are curious and open to alternative forms of propulsion in the railway sector as well. Within the Transdev Group, to which we belong, there is already a lot of experience with alternative drives in the bus sector. However, it is by no means enough to put the hydrogen train on the track, since many aspects have to be taken into account during operation. Safety requirements have to be implemented, staff training, the refueling of the vehicle, the routes on which it will travel, and many other activities have already begun.