A hydrogen-powered train will begin trials on the UK mainline with a transport hub hosted in Tees Valley.
Reportedly the country’s first hydrogen train, HydroFlex uses hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, heat and water without the harmful gases emitted by diesel trains. The technology will also be available to retrofit current in-service trains by 2023.
The train has been supported by a £750,000 grant from the Department for Transport (DfT) in conjunction with more the £1m investment from railway rolling stock company Porterbrook and the University of Birmingham. It follows nearly two years of development work.
The University of Birmingham will continue to improve a hydrogen- and battery-powered module that can be fitted underneath the train, allowing for more passenger space in the train carriage.
Whilst visiting the start of trials in Warwickshire, UK transport secretary, Grant Shapps, said: “As we continue on our road to a green recovery, we know that to really harness the power of transport to improve our country – and to set a global gold standard – we must truly embed change.
“That’s why I’m delighted that through our plans to build back better we are embracing the power of hydrogen and the more sustainable, greener forms of transport it will bring.”
The DfT has commissioned a study into the feasibility of the hub, with a report to be published in January 2021. The plan will explore how hydrogen could power buses, HGVs, rail, maritime and aviation transport across the UK.
Alongside the launch of the hydrogen train, a Hydrogen for Transport programme was also launched, which will invest £23m into 19 new hydrogen-powered refuse trucks and hydrogen refuelling station in Glasgow.
