Stadler, Erfurter Bahn and the Free State of Thuringia are driving forward the development of sustainable mobility with the RS ZERO

24.09.2024

The Swiss rail vehicle manufacturer Stadler took a further step towards sustainable mobility today. Together with the Thuringian Ministry of Infrastructure and Agriculture (TMIL) and Erfurter Bahn, a declaration of intent was signed that envisages the use of the hydrogen prototype RS ZERO in Thuringia as part of a pilot project.

The signing ceremony took place at the InnoTrans trade fair in Berlin in the presence of Susanna Karawanskij, Thuringian Minister for Infrastructure and Agriculture, Michael Hecht, Managing Director of Erfurter Bahn, Jure Mikolčić, CEO of Stadler Division Germany and Steffen Obst, Head of Sales at Stadler in Germany.

A milestone for Thuringia and the environment

Thuringia is sending a strong signal for climate protection: the state plans to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in local rail transport by the middle of the next decade and to replace the diesel vehicles currently in use with more environmentally friendly rail vehicles in the medium term. The RS ZERO prototype exhibited at InnoTrans has a hydrogen drive that produces zero local emissions and was developed to be used on rail lines without overhead lines. This gives the vehicle the potential to replace existing diesel trains and thus make a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in regional rail transport. That is why TMIL is supporting the testing of the RS Zero prototype and will use the project results to review and further develop the current strategy for achieving largely emission-free regional rail transport in Thuringia.

Minister Karawanskij is confident: "The RS ZERO could close an existing gap in the current portfolio of vehicle manufacturers as a successor to the Regio-Shuttle, which has proven itself in Thuringian local transport, and build on the performance of the Regio-Shuttle with its technical features. This opens up new perspectives for a more environmentally friendly regional rail transport system of the future. Thuringia offers the ideal conditions for putting this vehicle through its paces."

Innovative technology for a greener future

The RS ZERO will be available in the future with a hydrogen drive - as presented at InnoTrans - or as a battery-electric variant, thus providing a future-oriented solution for CO2-emission-free operation on non-electrified lines. With the creation of suitable infrastructure - whether hydrogen filling stations or charging islands - a technically optimised vehicle concept can be offered adapted to the rail network to be used. Thanks to its lightweight construction and an axle load of under 18 tonnes, the RS ZERO is ideal for branch lines with low passenger demand, thus creating the possibility of economically attractive transport services away from the main lines.

Jure Mikolčić, CEO of Stadler Division Germany, emphasises: "Thanks to the technological openness and the option of designing both a one-car or two-car vehicle, we can always offer our customers the right vehicle and thus make an important contribution to the transport transition."

Steffen Obst, Head of Sales at Stadler Division Germany, adds: "The RS ZERO continues the success story of the Regio-Shuttle RS1 - extremely high passenger comfort, a barrier-free design in a spacious passenger area, an environmentally friendly and powerful drive for short journey times are the essential aspects for an attractive offer in local and regional transport. The RS ZERO can also be the right solution for reactivating lines that have been closed in the past."

Pioneering pilot project

Following on from the memorandum of understanding signed today, all three partners are aiming to establish a project partnership in the coming months, in which the details and conditions for the start of the pilot project will be agreed. The pilot project involves the use of the prototype in trial operations with passengers, probably starting in mid-2026, on catenary-free lines in Thuringia. The trial operation will ensure that the RS ZERO meets the requirements of passengers and the operational, technical and economic expectations of the railway companies. Suitable regional rail lines will be selected in cooperation with the three partners. Depending on the location, the service will be operated by the Erfurt Railway or the South Thuringian Railway.
Michael Hecht, Managing Director of the Erfurt Railway, says: "We are pleased to be able to test this new technology in real-life operation, under the challenging topographical conditions that certainly exist in Thuringia, and we expect it to fill a gap in terms of the requirements for branch lines as well."