New Hydrogen Powered Trains Could Hit UK Tracks by 2022 | Industry News

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Hydrogen trains could be on UK tracks by 2022
The new trains will produce no direct emissions
A new hydrogen train design could hit the UK tracks sooner than you think. The design by Alstom is based on converted Class 321 stock and is currently known as ‘Breeze’.
The project is being led by Alstom in partnership with Eversholt Rail, however Alstom’s Widnes factory will manage the conversion of the Breeze trains, transforming the electric Class 321’s to Hydrogen Multiple Unit (HMU) powered trains.
The new trains will produce no direct emissions other than water and, an added bonus for passengers will be that the trains will incorporate more room inside the cabins than the trains they are replacing.
It is likely that Breeze will look to operate in the rural and inter-urban routes where electrification has not been rolled out. Because of this Alstom and Eversholt are currently looking into routes and the associated fuel infrastructure that may be required.
The government have committed to eliminating diesel from rolling stock by 2040, hydrogen trains are one of the ways companies are providing eco-friendly solutions. The current solution now means that they can quickly roll out onto Britain's tracks effciently.
Alstom introduced hydrogen trains called Coradia iLint in Germany last September which has so far been working well, operating a daily passenger service. It is believed that the president of France’s Occitanie region is also interested in adopting Alstom’s hydrogen train technology.
The trains could be in service in the UK as early as 2022, so watch this space.