The failed purchase of hydrogen trains by the province of Groningen does not lead to sad faces among all transport experts. Some do see the benefits (for sustainability).
Two years ago, Groningen, as a ‘hydrogen province’, opted for hydrogen trains to make the railway more sustainable. Four trains were to run test runs in the coming years, but deputy Johan Hamster (including traffic, Christian Union) announced on Wednesday that the tender had failed.
Manufacturers would not be willing or able to meet the requirements regarding, among other things, seating capacity and accessibility. Now that the plan is on hold for the time being, the province can better focus on electrification, some experts say.
Groningen hydrogen enthusiast, Friesland battery fan
The choice of hydrogen was remarkable because the province manages the seven northern railway lines between Groningen, Leeuwarden, Stavoren, Harlingen, Eemshaven, Delfzijl, Veendam and Leer (Winschoten) together with Friesland.
They have a different position on sustainability: Friesland has so far preferred (partial) electrification over hydrogen, but no decisions have yet been made about making the railway more sustainable.
Arriva’s newest trains in the North (18 trains, in service since 2020) are already suitable for a battery system. They run 100 percent electrically under an overhead line on the main track and on diesel in the region. As soon as there is partial electrification of those railway lines, batteries will be added that will be charged en route or at stations.
The other 51 Arriva trains in Groningen and Friesland run on (bio)diesel.
Electrification is the best way to become more sustainable
Even before the failure of the tender in Groningen became known, train experts from the Rail in Friesland working group pointed this week to a study into making the railway in Overijssel more sustainable. “Prorail has admitted that electrification is the best way,” writes chairman Menno van der Veen in an open letter.
According to him, it is time for Friesland and Groningen to take stock and abandon the idea of acting as a testing ground for battery technology and hydrogen.
“Now that it has been proven in Overijssel that complete electrification is worthwhile, this will certainly apply to the Leeuwarden – Groningen railway line. Let the provinces take their responsibility and switch to full electrification,” says Van der Veen.
According to him, electric rail only offers advantages for travelers. For example, electric trains are quieter, faster and run on a more robust and reliable timetable. The German state of Lower Saxony, which already runs hydrogen trains, announced last year that it would stop doing so.
Extra impact for Wunderline and Lower Saxony Line
Electrification of the Groningen track towards Germany offers additional opportunities for the Wunderline. Various rail companies want to use the Groningen – Bremen connection, provided it is equipped with an overhead line, as part of longer international routes and sleeper trains, such as Amsterdam-Berlin and Brussels-Stockholm. New rail companies, such as Flixtrain, are interested in this, but without electric rail, Groningen is not eligible for those types of routes.
Electrification also better connects the port railway lines to Harlingen, Eemshaven and Delfzijl with (inter)national freight transport. Hydrogen and battery trains are more expensive and are not used on electric track. Changing locomotives does not make train routes more efficient.
Van der Veen also points out the importance for the Lower Saxony line. “Electrification only makes the railway between Leeuwarden/Groningen and Emmen/Enschede even more interesting for commuters. If they no longer have to first travel to the busy Zwolle railway junction, the planned renovation of the ‘bottle neck’ for 40 million may no longer be necessary.”
Overijssel opts for electrification
Overijssel wants the railway line Almelo – Mariënberg (17 kilometers) in principle electrify, it now appears that operating costs increase when driving on diesel, but also when switching to hydrogen or battery-electric driving. According to the Rail in Friesland working group, research into the Arnhem – Winterswijk railway line (58 kilometers) came to the same conclusion, but the province of Gelderland has not yet made a decision about this.