Overview

• NEB’s chief said RB27 has run almost exclusively on hydrogen since December 2024 and called it the only functioning hydrogen local-transport project in Germany.
• Early hurdles included a refuelling station and electrolysis units not being ready on time and too little hydrogen available in the first days of service.
• Hydrogen is currently bought on the market, and NEB plans to switch to green, regionally produced hydrogen via an on-site electrolysis plant.
• Brandenburg’s finance minister cautioned that exclusively using green hydrogen immediately may be impractical and that hydrogen from conventional electricity may be necessary at first.
• About €116 million has been invested, the project sits within the i2030 rail expansion with a planned Wilhelmsruh–Gesundbrunnen link, and Barnim aims to extend hydrogen use to buses and waste vehicles with new fueling infrastructure.