Deutsche Bahn eyes role as hydrogen transporter

German national rail company aims to use existing chemical tank wagons to move ammonia from ports to industrial demand centres

German state-owned railway company Deutsche Bahn (DB) is working with the energy industry to develop ways to use its fleet of tank wagons to transport liquid hydrogen derivates, mainly in the form of ammonia, in large volumes from import terminals to industrial demand centres. DB Cargo, the company’s freight arm, would deploy tank wagons already used to transport chemicals to move ammonia around its 35,000km rail network. The plan offers an efficient alternative to hydrogen pipelines, which Germany does not possess, the company says. "We have developed a solution that brings hydrogen easily and efficiently from the ports to consumers in the hinterland, particularly to our industrial custome