Photo Credit:Fair Use [17 U.S.C. § 107] Poland's hydrogen-powered SM42-6Dn locomotive

The Hydrogen Illusion: Poland's Fuel Cell Locomotive and the Uneven Future of Clean Rail

04 Oct 2025 | Abstracted from EVWorld.com

Poland's hydrogen-powered SM42-6Dn locomotive marks a symbolic step toward clean rail, but hydrogen trains face steep economic and logistical hurdles. Germany's mixed results, including failures in the Taunus region, highlight infrastructure and reliability issues. Battery-electric trains offer higher efficiency and lower costs, while hydrogen remains a niche solution. Poland’s effort is strategic - more rehearsal than revolution - in a broader push for rail decarbonization.

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