New Plans for Hydrogen-Powered Trains in the U.K. Unveiled

Designs for new hydrogen-powered trains were unveiled this past week by Alstom and Eversholt Rail. The proposed train, named “Breeze,” has a design that stems from the conversion of the current train model in use in the United Kingdom. The new trains are projected to look like the computer-generated design above.

The “Breeze” is modeled after the Coradia iLint hydrogen-powered train, which is currently being used in Germany.  The “Breeze” will function similarly to the Coradia iLint, but will differ in its architecture. Alstom and Eversholt is hopeful to have widespread railway conversion to hydrogen-powered trains in the U.K. by 2022.

The transportation company also said in their announcement that the proposed train would only release water in addition to “no harmful emissions at all.”  U.K. train emissions for last year were quite significant at 2,765 kilotons of carbon dioxide. The proposed hydrogen-powered trains will lessen railway emissions to 0 once widely implemented.  

Andrew Jones, the U.K. government’s rail minister, welcomed Monday’s news. “Hydrogen train technology is an exciting innovation which has the potential to transform our railway, making journeys cleaner and greener by cutting CO2 emissions even further,” he said.  He believes that hydrogen-powered trains are integral in creating a greener future.