Deutsche Bahn (DB) and the state of Baden-Württemberg are operating 57 vehicles on the Aulendorfer Kreuz and Donau-Ostalb award network by rail with climate-friendly biofuel with immediate effect. As a result, the state and the railways are saving around 90 percent of the CO2 emissions on the routes. DB has completely converted the filling station in Aulendorf from diesel to biofuel for this purpose. Thorsten Krenz, Group Representative for the State of Baden-Württemberg, and Winfried Hermann, Minister of Transport of Baden-Württemberg, refuelled the first regional train nationwide in Aulendorf last week. By the end of 2023, 1.3 million litres of biofuel are to flow here.
Evelyn Palla, Member of the Management Board of Regional Transport DB AG: “For us, the use of biofuel is an immediate climate protection measure. Together with the state of Baden-Württemberg, we are taking an important step towards phasing out diesel and achieving climate neutrality with today’s premiere. By December 2023, we will save around 3,700 tonnes of CO2 in the two networks. Before the end of this year, we want to use the biofuel in regional transport at other locations throughout Germany. In this way, we will make the already climate-friendly public transport even greener and more attractive for our passengers.”
Winfried Hermann, Minister of Transport of Baden-Württemberg: “Trains should also no longer run on climate-damaging diesel. Throughout the state, we are therefore working on a strategy to move away from diesel. Where electrification is not yet possible, we are relying on alternative fuels. Aulendorf is a small but important railway junction for the region. As of today, diesel vehicles here in Upper Swabia travel with a significantly lower CO2 footprint. The state of Baden-Württemberg is supporting these measures with a total of 400,000 euros in 2022 and 2023.”
The biofuel HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) used by DB consists of biological residues and waste materials and is free of palm oil. There is thus no competition with food and animal feed production. The diesel trains are not specially converted for the biofuel. Fully functional diesel trains and diesel locomotives that are currently still used on routes that are not fully electrified therefore do not have to be discarded prematurely, but can travel in a much more climate-friendly manner until the end of their service life. This saves resources and serves sustainability. The rail filling station in Aulendorf, which has been converted from diesel to HVO, can also be used by other railway companies without discrimination.
08.09.2022
