Japanese delegation visits hydrogen project
Representatives of the Japanese railway companies East Japan Railway Company (JR-East) and West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) as well as the Japanese research institute Railway Technical Research Institute (RTRI) visited the hydrogen refuelling station of Kreiswerke Barnim and the fuel cell hybrid multiple units of Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn on 1 September 2025.
The meeting included a tour of the hydrogen refuelling station, a ride on the Mireo Plus H and a technical exchange between Kreiswerke Barnim, Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn and the German Aerospace Centre (DLR).
The Japanese colleagues have a great deal of experience with hydrogen fuel cell technology in the railway sector. A direct exchange helps to gain further insights into the use of alternative drive systems and to categorise technological advances," explains Mathias Böhm from the DLR Institute of Vehicle Concepts. "When representatives from different companies come together, experiences from other projects can be used to make our own processes more efficient," adds Gunter Kürbis, Project Manager at Kreiswerke Barnim GmbH. Denis Kasse, Project Manager Business Development & Process Optimisation at Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn, adds: "It was a great pleasure for us to welcome such renowned Japanese companies to our region to share our experience in the introduction of zero-emission rail vehicles across national borders."