Railroad Technology Siemens Mobility Supplies Hydrogen Trains to Romania

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From 2029, twelve Mireo Plus H multiple-unit trains will operate non-electrified regional routes in the greater Bucharest area. They will replace diesel-powered vehicles there, enabling locally emission-free operation.

On April 15, 2026, the Romanian railroad reform authority Autoritatea pentru Reformă Feroviară (ARF) placed an order with Siemens Mobility for the delivery of twelve hydrogen-powered electric multiple units. In addition to the manufacture of the vehicles, this also includes maintenance and repair services over an initial period of 15 years. According to media reports, the order is worth 370 million US dollars. This is Romania's first order for hydrogen trains (Hydrogen Electric Multiple Unit, HEMU) and represents one of the first hydrogen projects in Eastern Europe. Romania is thus taking a step towards the decarbonization of regional transport. The new multiple units are scheduled to go into passenger service in 2029. "We are proud to deliver Romania's first hydrogen train fleet. With the Mireo Plus H, we are combining a proven regional train platform with state-of-the-art hydrogen technology and enabling emission-free rail operations on non-electrified lines. Hydrogen will play a key role in achieving climate-friendly mobility in Europe, and this project demonstrates how innovation is translated into reliable and economically attractive mobility solutions," emphasizes Andre Rodenbeck, CEO Rolling Stock at Siemens Mobility.

The drive system of the two-car articulated trains is based on hydrogen fuel cells from Ballard Power Systems, supplemented by a lithium-ion battery. This is charged either by the fuel cells or by the regenerative energy generated during braking. The maximum speed is 75 mph and the maximum output is 2,300 horsepower.

Designed for Low Consumption

According to Siemens, the vehicle concept was specifically optimized in terms of weight, complexity, energy consumption and maintenance costs. The vehicles are equipped with point train control (PZB) and the European Train Control System (ETCS). This means that they meet European safety and interoperability standards.

The multiple units have 131 fixed seats and five folding seats. Two trains can be coupled together, offering the operator flexibility in use. A passenger information system with exterior and interior displays keeps passengers continuously informed about their journey. Automatic announcements not only inform passengers, but also support the staff. According to press reports, the trains are to be used on four non-electrified and public service obligation (PSO) routes from Bucharest, among others.

The full-service maintenance contract associated with the order includes an end-to-end service solution with full responsibility as an "Entity in Charge of Maintenance", runs for 15 years and can be extended for a further 15 years. Maintenance is supported by maintenance and fleet management systems from Siemens Mobility's Railigent-X platform. These enable condition-based and predictive maintenance, thus ensuring high vehicle availability and a long service life for components and batteries. A special depot will also be set up in Bucharest, where Siemens will carry out the maintenance work.

Mireo Plus H is Already on the Road in Germany

The new trains for Romania are based on the Mireo platform from Siemens Mobility. This includes all-electric multiple units (EMU), the Mireo Plus B as a battery electric multiple unit (BEMU) and the Mireo Plus H as a hydrogen-powered variant (HEMU). In total, the Mireo trains are used in 24 fleets with almost 600 vehicles.

In Germany, the Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn (NEB) currently has seven hydrogen trains in scheduled operation on the Heidekrautbahn. There is also a test run on the Bavarian Regiobahn with one multiple unit, and from December, three Mireo Plus H trains will be running on the Südostbayernbahn between Mühldorf and Burghausen. A trial in Baden-Württemberg in 2025 with one train has now been completed.(se)

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