Poland Funds First Hydrogen-Powered Passenger Train

PESA Bydgoszcz SA Rail Vehicles has launched work on Poland’s first hydrogen-powered passenger train capable of operating on both electrified and non-electrified rail lines. The project will receive financial support from the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFEP), which has signed an agreement with the company to co-finance it under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (KPO).

The initiative, titled “Implementation of a research and development project for the design and construction of a demonstrator hydrogen passenger vehicle with additional power supply from the traction network,” is being carried out within the “Hydrogenization of the Economy” priority program.

The total project budget exceeds PLN 108 million, with more than PLN 36 million provided through the KPO.

The project’s objective is to develop a HEMU (Hydrogen Electric Multiple Unit) passenger train. This will be Poland’s first hydrogen train equipped with three power sources: electricity from the overhead traction line via pantograph, hydrogen fuel cells, and onboard batteries. The multi-source configuration will enable flexible operation depending on route conditions. A control system developed by PESA will automatically select the most efficient power source, reducing hydrogen consumption on electrified sections.

As part of the project, PESA will prepare the technical documentation and build a demonstration vehicle that complies with railway market requirements and hydrogen safety standards.

The technology is particularly relevant for regional rail transport, as around 40% of railway lines in Poland remain non-electrified, making hydrogen trains a low-emission alternative to conventional diesel units.

This agreement builds on previous cooperation with PESA. In September 2025, the National Fund also signed a grant agreement supporting the construction of manufacturing facilities in Bydgoszcz for hydrogen locomotives. The project involves building a comprehensive production complex with an area exceeding 15,000 m².

Over the project’s lifetime, the company plans to manufacture and sell 25 hydrogen locomotives, whose operation could reduce CO₂ emissions by more than 7,600 tonnes. These units will be the first mass-produced shunting locomotives in Europe powered by green or low-emission hydrogen and will feature an autonomous track obstacle detection system.

PESA Bydgoszcz SA Rail Vehicles is Poland’s largest rail vehicle manufacturer, with operations not only in Poland but also across Europe, as well as in Asia and Africa. The company’s majority shareholder is the Polish Development Fund Group, which holds more than 99% of PESA’s shares.