Economic Forum in Karpacz: the first scheduled passenger service using a train with a hydrogen locomotive
03.09.2025
The Minister of Climate and Environment participated in the signing of a grant agreement for the development of a Polish hydrogen locomotive. This vehicle will be able to replace diesel locomotives on railway sections that will not be electrified.
Highlights:
- The Ministry of Climate and Environment supports Polish industry in developing technologies that could drive Polish exports in the future. It uses funds from the National Recovery Plan to support industrial innovation and build competitive advantages for the future.
- Hydrogen is one of the future fuels. PLN 53 million in subsidies from the NRP will be allocated to increasing production capacity of PESA S.A.
- On 3 September 2025, the first historic scheduled passenger train service using a hydrogen-powered locomotive took place in Poland.
From the funds of the National Recovery Plan, as part of the ‘Hydrogenisation of the economy’ programme, we have signed an agreement to support the production of one of the world's first hydrogen locomotives, manufactured by PESA S.A. in Bydgoszcz. A subsidy of over PLN 53 million will support the transfer of the locomotive prototype to the production line and the start of systematic production. Our priority is to support modern Polish technologies
– said Paulina Hennig-Kloska, Minister of Climate and Environment.
On Wednesday, 3 September 2025, in the presence of Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska, an agreement between the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management and PESA entitled ‘Increasing PESA's production capacity to enable the production of hydrogen-powered vehicles based on the results of completed R&D work’ has been signed. It will enable the construction of a factory that will gradually increase PESA's production capacity so that by 2040 it will produce 10 hydrogen locomotives per year.
The special service with a hydrogen locomotive on the Jelenia Góra - Karpacz railway line was attended by, among others, Minister of Climate and Environment Paulina Hennig-Kloska, President of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management Dorota Zawadzka-Stępniak, Marshall of the Dolnośląskie Voivodship Paweł Gancarz, President of the Management Board of Koleje Dolnośląskie Damian Stawikowski, President of the Management Board of PolMiedźTrans (KGHM) Adam Najda, and President of the Management Board of PESA S.A. Krzysztof Zdziarski.
