[FREE / passenger] Siemens hydrogen trains for Mühldorf

Siemens Mobility has begun producing the hydrogen-powered trains (FCEMUs), which will enter service on the Südostbayernbahn network in late 2026. The State of Bavaria has ordered three two-car Mireo Plus H trains to replace the diesel units operating from the Mühldorf hub, reducing CO₂ emissions, noise pollution, and exhaust gas across the region.

The new Mireo Plus H trains with ETCS will offer level access, nine bicycle spaces, and special high-frequency-permeable windows to enhance mobile phone reception. In addition to the production contract, Siemens Mobility has also been awarded a service agreement for the trains’ hydrogen supply infrastructure.

• It is Siemens’ second Mireo+H in Germany, after the seven units for the NEB Heidekrautbahn;

The hydrogen trains will operate along the non-electrified Mühldorf – Tüßling – Burghausen route, covering a distance of 32.3 kilometres and serving eight stations. Deutsche Bahn (DB) will construct an electrolysis plant in Mühldorf to support the new fleet, which will be powered entirely by green electricity.

• Related news: How Bavaria will eliminate all diesel trains;

Siemens has also released an artist’s impression of a DB-red Mireo unit with large green sections to emphasise the FCEMU capabilities:

About the Linienstern Mühldorf contract

In 2021, Bayerische Eisenbahngesellschaft (BEG) launched a tender process to find an operator for the Linienstern Mühldorf contract (2024–2035) covering all regional train services on the non-electrified lines in and around the German city of Mühldorf. However, no satisfactory offers were received. In 2022, a second, less demanding tender was issued — this time allowing second-hand diesel trains as the standard — and proved successful.

As a result, DB subsidiary Südostbayernbahn (SOB) has been awarded the Linienstern Mühldorf contract, covering the period from December 2024 to December 2035. Key developments a rapid transition to barrier-free trains and the introduction of Siemens Mireo hydrogen trains on the Mühldorf–Burghausen route;

In 2021, Bayerische Eisenbahngesellschaft (BEG) started the tender procedure to find the best operator for the Linienstern Mühldorf contract 2024-2025. However, no satisfying offer was received. In 2022, a new tender was started with less ambitious vehicle requirements (second-hand diesel trains became the norm). This time with success:

hydrogen considered suboptimal

On the RB 42 Mühldorf-Burghausen line, Siemens Mireo FCEMUs will be used from December 2026. This ‘experiment’ is considered expensive and suboptimal – TU Dresden made a report for BEG about alternative drives to diesel, and it was obvious that batteries are cheaper. Both electrification and battery trains (BEMUs) would result in 90% CO2 reduction, while FCEUMs will land between 42% and 74%.