Green electricity for all RCG trains in Germany

After its Austrian network, Rail Cargo Group is now operating its German network entirely by green electricity. Trains on all TransFER services in Germany are running on traction current that comes 100 per cent from renewable energy sources, the company proudly announced. This is in effect per 1 January 2021. 

The network consists of services like the TransFER Linz–Duisburg–Wels and the TransFER Vienna–Scandinavia, as well as all other products in Germany where traction is provided by Rail Cargo Carrier – Germany.·The shift to green electricity in Germany makes a significant contribution to sustainable freight transport in Europe.

In Austria, the freight trains of Rail Cargo Group (RCG) have already been running on electricity from renewable energy sources since summer 2018. After Germany, more countries are to follow suit in the coming years, the operator promises. “After all, rail is already the most environmentally friendly mode of transport and will still be the only sustainable land transport option for the next ten to fifteen years.”

Green electricity for trains

The green electricity being used for rail operations in Germany is CO2 neutral. It is obtained from partner power stations and is drawn from the public power grid. Its hydrogen source has been certified by TÜV Nord. In Austria, ÖBB Infrastruktur already runs eight of its own hydropower stations and one solar power station. Together, they generate more than one third of the required traction current.

This electricity will be distributed via railway power cables and converted in substations into the relevant overhead line voltage. The overhead lines in Austria then bring the green traction current to the trains that run on the ÖBB’s rail network.