Battery trains in danger: Saxony withdraws from financing!

Battery trains in danger: Saxony withdraws from financing!

Neustadt in Sachsen, Deutschland - The Dresden Transport Association (VVO) plans to have a fundamental renewal of the diesel network, which includes the lines RB72, RB71, RB33 and S8 (RB34) . The aim is to replace 2031 trains with batteries operated with batteries. This decision comes at a time when the discussion about environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional diesel trains absorbs. Originally, hydrogen features were scored as a possible solution, but this idea was rejected again, such as Meidresden reported.

The current association meeting of the VVO recently discussed the use of battery trains. But there is a drop of bitterness when planning: Planned cuts in investments in the Free State budget make many nervous in the transport association. "Common solutions for sustainable local transport are necessary," said Burkhard Ehlen, the managing director of the VVO, who emphasizes that the financial framework must be clearly improved.

test drives and infrastructure

in September 2020 there was already a test drive with a battery train, the Desiro ML ÖBB Cityjet Eco from Siemens, from Dresden to Königsbrück. This test project is intended to create the basis for future investment funding from the federal and free state

. In order to ensure the integration of these new technologies, extensive investments in the infrastructure are necessary. Unfortunately, however, Saxony has withdrawn from the financing, which also burdens the plans.

Especially in the discussion about alternative drive systems, it becomes clear what importance hydrogen trains could have in the future of the transport sector. According to the Tagesschau, Deutsche Bahn sees great potential in hydrogen features for reducing CO2 emissions in the transport sector, but these models are still at the beginning of their development trip.

currently Germany largely produces the hydrogen from fossil fuels, which brings the CO2 balance to falter. It remains to be seen how the transition to "green" hydrogen is promoted. The Federal Government has set itself the goal of increasing the proportion of the hydrogen produced by electrolysis up to 2030 . Mobile hydrogen filling stations should also ensure that the trains are quickly refueled and thus create the necessary infrastructure.

Mission Climate Aimals

The urgency of the changeover to environmentally friendly means of transport is underpinned by Germany's climate goals. The traffic sector contributes 23% of CO2 emissions worldwide, and until 2030 the emission is to be reduced by 40%. By 2045 , Germany even strives for climate neutrality. Already 74% The train kilometers in large cities such as Berlin and Brandenburg are operated electrically, which shows how important public transport is for the overall balance of emissions.

When the drive types are changed, a distinction is made between different technologies: hydrogen features that use an emission -free energy source, and battery trains that store electrical energy. These new drive technologies could be crucial for the future traffic turnaround. A pilot project on the Heidekrautbahn, which is to start from December 2024 , will introduce hydrogen features that are obtained locally. These innovative approaches could take on a key role in an endeavor to climate-friendly traffic, as on VBB impulse.

The coming time will show how the planned conversion of the transport network in the Dresden region is implemented and to what extent the commitment to more sustainable local transport can be promoted.