The Railway Industry Association is urging the Government to prioritise new fleets of hydrogen trains in its efforts to create a ‘hydrogen economy’ in the UK and to achieve its target of net zero carbon by 2050.
The Government’s recently published UK Hydrogen Strategy states that while new traction technology such as the Alstom/Eversholt Class 321 ‘Breeze’ hydrogen multiple unit (HMU) has a role, the best solution remains electrification.
Rail is mentioned only a handful of times in the 121-page report, although this is partly because rail is identified as already being one of the greenest transport methods.
However, RIA says Network Rail’s figures suggest that up to 1,300km (800 miles) of railway lines will require hydrogen trains to reach the Government’s goal. And it says hydrogen trains will kick-start other benefits.
RIA Technical Director David Clarke said: “As the Government considers the rollout of this strategy, and the use of hydrogen in decarbonising the economy, we ask them to heed
Jim Gourlay - 27/08/2021 16:56
Hydrogen itself is a clean fuel but how much offensive polluting gas is created to manufacture and purify the Hydrogen. and at what cost. Has any one estimated how much pollution is created per mile a train runs including the pollution created to manufacture the train fuel in the first place.