<story><title>Germany launches world&apos;s first hydrogen-powered train</title><url>https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/sep/17/germany-launches-worlds-first-hydrogen-powered-train</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>jillesvangurp</author><text>In related news, Bombardier is deploying a battery powered train in Berlin: &lt;a href=&quot;https:&amp;#x2F;&amp;#x2F;montrealgazette.com&amp;#x2F;business&amp;#x2F;local-business&amp;#x2F;bombardier-debuts-battery-train-in-berlin-in-challenge-to-diesel&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;https:&amp;#x2F;&amp;#x2F;montrealgazette.com&amp;#x2F;business&amp;#x2F;local-business&amp;#x2F;bombardi...&lt;/a&gt;&lt;p&gt;Most of the rail system in Germany is electrified anyway. With batteries to power the non electrified bits, why bother with hydrogen?</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>jnty</author><text>Overhead power lines require maintenance too, and getting 100% coverage often involves disproportionate spend on short sections that are expensive to cover and maintain. Getting rid of masts on those sections - or even whole lines - could be a massive cost saving.&lt;p&gt;Additionally, Germany is a big train tech exporter, and there&amp;#x27;s lots of unelectrified route miles in Europe and the world, many of which would be totally uneconomical to electrify.</text></comment>
<story><title>Germany launches world&apos;s first hydrogen-powered train</title><url>https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/sep/17/germany-launches-worlds-first-hydrogen-powered-train</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>jillesvangurp</author><text>In related news, Bombardier is deploying a battery powered train in Berlin: &lt;a href=&quot;https:&amp;#x2F;&amp;#x2F;montrealgazette.com&amp;#x2F;business&amp;#x2F;local-business&amp;#x2F;bombardier-debuts-battery-train-in-berlin-in-challenge-to-diesel&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;https:&amp;#x2F;&amp;#x2F;montrealgazette.com&amp;#x2F;business&amp;#x2F;local-business&amp;#x2F;bombardi...&lt;/a&gt;&lt;p&gt;Most of the rail system in Germany is electrified anyway. With batteries to power the non electrified bits, why bother with hydrogen?</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>azernik</author><text>Because fuel cells provide range equivalent to diesel (600km, says the article), while these battery-powered trains can only go 40km or so between charges.</text></comment>