The world’s first hydrogen train in regular scheduled service is operated by evb on assignment from the Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen (LNVG). The name “evb” does not only stand for “Eisenbahnen und Verkehrsbetriebe Elbe-Weser” (“Elbe-Weser Railways and Transport Company”). It stands for an entire group of companies – and for an attitude: So close is way ahead!

Operating the world’s first hydrogen trains in scheduled service? That surely is way ahead. And still, we always remain close to our passengers and our home region, the Elbe-Weser triangle.

With more than 550 dedicated employees, we transport 2 million passengers by rail and 4 million passengers by bus to their respective destinations – safely, climate-friendly and year after year. Like this, we also fulfil a crucial service for society.

In addition, we operate our own rail network with 235 kilometres of track, as well as our own repair facilities for trains and buses.

In freight transport, the evb Group operates multiple sites all over Germany with locations in Hamburg, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Wilhelmshaven, and Regensburg, among others.

As shareholders, we have stakes in numerous transport and logistics companies in northern Germany. We ourselves are more than 80 percent owned by the state of Lower Saxony.

By the way: As an employer, we are always looking for committed colleagues who want to be way ahead with us! Find out more on our website: www.evb-elbe-weser.de/karriere/

The Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen mbH (LNVG) has acquired 14 hydrogen trains of the Coradia iLint type. They are operated by evb on the RB33 line (Cuxhaven – Bremerhaven – Bremervörde – Buxtehude) and successively replace the conventional Coradia Lint 41 diesel trains. As production takes time, evb has not received all 14 trains. As of August 2022, 5 Coradia iLint are in operation. Soon, the number of hydrogen trains will be expanded, until all the diesel trains are replaced.

As an energy source for the hydrogen train, we currently use a by-product from the chemical industry, thus tapping an otherwise unused resource. In the future, we will produce hydrogen on site in Bremervörde by electrolysis, using electricity generated by wind power. It doesn’t get greener than that!

At the world’s first hydrogen filling station for trains in Bremervörde / Lower Saxony. The hydrogen filling station was built in July 2020 by German manufacturer Linde and will be operated by the same partner.

The hydrogen train is made in Germany at the ALSTOM plant in Salzgitter/Lower Saxony. It was developed at the sites in Salzgitter and Tarbes/France. Maintenance is carried out by evb in its service facilities in Bremervörde (during the initial phase, together with ALSTOM).