Battery instead of hydrogen

Zillertalbahn: U-turn on the “lighthouse project”

There has now been a political U-turn regarding the Zillertalbahn.

(Bild: Birbaumer Christof)

On Tuesday, the black-red Tyrolean state government made the expected formal U-turn regarding the drive variant of the Zillertalbahn. In a government meeting, a resolution from the previous year, which had envisaged a hydrogen variant, was updated and replaced by battery technology.

Last year, it was still stated that the Tyrolean state government considered it a "lighthouse project" with regard to the expansion of emission-free public transport. And: "We have made a conscious decision in favor of innovation and progress. Tyrol must become a pioneer when it comes to hydrogen."

All water under the bridge
In the present and future, this is all water under the bridge: the Zillertalbahn is to run on battery technology in the future. The government has thus followed the results of a study by the Vienna University of Technology (TU). The project is to be realized by 2030.

The decision has now been made. The Zillertalbahn is to be operated using battery technology in future.

LHStv. Josef Geisler (ÖVP) und Mobilitätslandesrat René Zumtobel (SPÖ)

The Vienna University of Technology's report showed that a pure battery variant or a hybrid variant - with a battery and partial overhead line - would be the most suitable, according to a press release by Josef Geisler (ÖVP) and René Zumtobel (SPÖ). However, the hybrid drive would make the most sense if a full expansion to a continuous overhead line was subsequently pushed forward. Both the provincial government and the region have rejected this - "due to the ownership situation and the high investment costs, among other things".

Advantages and disadvantages
The battery-only variant offers advantages in terms of procurement, but has disadvantages during operation, particularly in terms of service life. The hybrid variants, on the other hand, would have advantages in terms of ongoing operation, but would require higher investment costs, especially at the beginning.

Charging infrastructure is being examined 
In any case, the charging infrastructure for the battery drive must now be examined. In addition, the next planning work will be commissioned, whereby the region, which is heavily influenced by tourism, will be "intensively involved". The conversion of the diesel train is planned for the 2025 to 2030 program period of the "Medium-term investment program for private railroads".

According to Zumtobel, all public bus transport will also be expanded and gradually operated emission-free.