Bad Homburg (dpa/lhe) – After the failed start of the fleet of hydrogen trains in the Taunus, retrofits should ensure stable traffic. Initially, five hydrogen trains equipped with revised components would be used on the affected route RB15 (Brandoberndorf-Bad Homburg), the manufacturer Alstom announced on Friday in Bad Homburg. There are currently no trains running due to work on the line, train services are scheduled to resume on February 27th.

In addition to the five retrofitted hydrogen trains, six diesel trains will then be on the road. In addition, the replacement bus service will continue, said the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV). From the end of March or early April, only retrofitted hydrogen trains could be on the route, said a spokesman for Alstom.

RMV had ordered the world’s largest fleet of hydrogen trains, 27 in all, but far fewer trains had been delivered by the scheduled start in mid-December, some of which were also not operational. There were also problems with the replacement diesel-powered trains. When the timetable changes in June, Alstom now wants to deliver the entire fleet. The trains are also planned for three other routes.