New hydrogen trains have been rolling through the Taunus since December - however, difficulties with delivery and operation are causing a lot of trouble for passengers.
When asked, the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV) spoke of a painful setback for a project of enormous importance.
Originally, 27 hydrogen trains were to be in use from the timetable change in mid-December - RMV had announced the use of the world's largest hydrogen fleet.
So far, nine trains have been handed over to RMV, manufacturer Alstom explained on request.
There should be 14 in total by the end of February, and then 27 in early June.
Alstom explained that the use in the Taunus was preceded by extensive tests in various countries.
Due to delivery difficulties due to the pandemic and the attack on Ukraine, the trains for the RMV were available for testing later than planned.
"More test time in the RMV network would undoubtedly have had a positive effect on the start of operations," says the manufacturer.
Due to construction work, replacement buses are currently on the RB15 route (Brandoberndorf-Bad Homburg).
In the meantime, trains should be running again from January 30th, until regular train traffic is possible again at the end of February.
"It is still the declared goal of RMV that when operations resume on February 27, every train journey will be made with a train, preferably with hydrogen trains," explained RMV spokeswoman Vanessa Rehermann.
To be on the safe side, the replacement buses and diesel-powered trains will also be available after the construction work.