DB Regio, which operates regional and commuter train services in Germany, has been piloting the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) instead of diesel on trains running on the Gäubodenbahn rail line from Neufahrn via Straubing to Bogen and on the Rottalbahn from Mühldorf to Passau.
DB Energie has equipped the filling station at the train station in Straubing for refueling with HVO. HVO is made from biological residues and waste. No additional cultivation areas that could compete with food and feed production are used in production. In addition, the biofuel is free of palm oil.
By the end of June 2024, around 650,000 liters of biofuel will be filled up at the Südwestbayernbahn, “thereby saving a great deal of CO2,” DB Regio noted. When compared to conventional diesel, depending on the composition of the raw materials, HVO causes around 85% to 90% fewer greenhouse gas emissions on balance.
DB Regio financed the filling station equipment together with the Free State of Bavaria. The Free State will bear the additional costs for the HVO fuel for one year.
The news follows other announcements from Deutsche Bahn about its roll out of alternatives fuels, including for 20 trains in the Sauerland network, and for vehicles on the Schwarzatalbahn in Thuringia.