Full of hydrogen ahead: Line 39A will be emission-free in Döbling!

Full of hydrogen ahead: Line 39A will be emission-free in Döbling!

The city of Vienna is about to take a significant step in terms of sustainable mobility. From December 1, 2025, ten new hydrogen buses will serve line 39A between Heiligenstadt and Sievering. This makes this line the first in Vienna to be operated completely emission-free. This development is not only a complete success for public transport, but also a strong signal towards climate protection, as heute.at reports.

Line 39A is particularly challenging in terms of gradients, short distances between stops and high passenger volumes. In recent weeks, Wiener Linien has already carried out comprehensive tests with the new hydrogen buses and trained the driving staff. “We are committed to a massive expansion of environmentally friendly means of transport,” emphasizes public transport city councilor Ulli Sima. Vienna lines calls this measure a further step towards the decarbonization of public transport.

Innovative technology for the future

The hydrogen buses come from the Portuguese manufacturer CaetanoBus and combine European vehicle technology with Japanese expertise in hydrogen propulsion. Equipped with a 180 kW electric motor from Siemens and a 70 kW fuel cell from Toyota, these buses prove to be true technological miracles. Five hydrogen tanks on the roof enable a range of over 400 kilometers without refueling. This is particularly advantageous for the demanding line in Döbling, where a reliable and emission-free bus connection is required.

With a total of 78 seats and a combined wheelchair and stroller space, the buses are also easily accessible and fully air-conditioned. The hydrogen buses are also refueled at a new hydrogen filling station in the Leopoldau bus garage. Here the buses are not only refueled, but also maintained, which further contributes to the efficiency of the operation Nature lovers pucking informed.

A role model for other cities

The introduction of hydrogen buses is part of a comprehensive plan by Wiener Linien to make public transport more climate-friendly. Currently, over 80 percent of passengers already use climate-friendly means of transport such as subways and trams as well as 70 electrically powered buses. As of this year, the 39A is the twelfth bus line to be operated entirely with zero-emission vehicles, complemented by other lines that use battery-hydrogen buses and electric buses, as reported by Wiener Linien.

The city of Vienna is positioning itself as a pioneer in the decarbonization of public transport, following other European cities such as London, Paris and Cologne. Asian metropolises such as Beijing and Seoul are already successfully using hydrogen technology. This step is not only supported by an investment of around 10.4 million euros, supported by the Ministry of Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure and the European Union. The project is also supported with 1.8 million euros from the Climate and Energy Fund.

Vienna has shown a good hand here, and the new hydrogen buses could soon represent a whole new era of sustainable mobility in the city. So there's something there!