GERMANY: Three Siemens Mireo Plus H hydrogen trains are undergoing testing and crew training before entering regular passenger service on Südostbayernbahn’s Mühldorf–Burghausen route at the December 2026 timetable change.

Bavaria hydrogen trains will enter regular service in December 2026 on the 32.3-km Mühldorf–Burghausen route after testing.
Photo: Deutsche Bahn AG

Deutsche Bahn presented the fleet with Siemens Mobility in Mühldorf on July 17. The three barrier-free trains will operate under the “Linienstern Mühldorf 2025+” transport contract, with their use specified by the Bavarian Railway Company (BEG). The deployment is set to become Bavaria’s first regular-service use of hydrogen trains.

The route itself is a 32.3-km non-electrified line running from Mühldorf via Tüßling to Burghausen and serving eight stations. Südostbayernbahn’s route-timetable page currently lists the 2026 KBS 942 schedules, but no separate post-change hydrogen-train frequency is published there yet.

Three trains will cover a 32.3-km non-electrified route

Siemens Mobility says the Bavaria fleet consists of three two-car Mireo Plus H units. Each train has nine bicycle spaces, low-floor access and high-frequency-permeable windows designed to improve mobile reception, while ETCS is fitted for train control. The vehicles are intended to replace diesel traction from the Mühldorf hub on non-electrified services.

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Mireo Plus H offers up to 1,200 km range

The hydrogen version combines a roof-mounted fuel cell with lithium-ion batteries beneath the car floor. For the Südostbayernbahn units, Siemens lists 1.7 MW of traction power, acceleration up to 1.1 m/s², a top speed of 140 km/h and a range of up to 1,200 km on one tank, depending on route topography and driving style. Refueling can take about 15 minutes, depending on the station.

Parameter Verified value
Fleet Three two-car Mireo Plus H trains
Route Mühldorf–Tüßling–Burghausen
Route length 32.3 km
Stations served 8
Traction power 1.7 MW
Acceleration Up to 1.1 m/s²
Top speed 140 km/h
Range Up to 1,200 km per tank, depending on topography and driving style
Refueling About 15 minutes, depending on the station

Hydrogen will be supplied through a newly built DB Energie filling station in Mühldorf powered by 100% renewable electricity. The federal funding package totals €8.2 million: €4.4 million for the trains and €3.8 million for the refueling infrastructure, with support also covering an electrolyzer.

The timetable change is therefore the key next milestone. Until then, the fleet remains in testing and training, and the published material reviewed for this article does not specify a separate hydrogen-train service frequency for December.

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