UK's first hydrogen train undergoes preliminary trials

The HydroFLEX project, the UK's first hydrogen-powered train - developed as a collaboration between the University of Birmingham and industry partners - began its first mainline tests on September 30.

The project was partially supported via a government grant of £750,000 (€827,175) from the Department of Transport and is the result of two years of work at the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCREE) and rolling stock from Porterbrook.

The train used in the trial is a converted Class 319 dual voltage train fitted with a hydrogen fuel cell that enables it to run purely on hydrogen on non-electrified routes. Hydrogen-powered trains do not emit harmful gases, as the only possible result from its combustion is water, which makes it far more environmentally-friendly than diesel trains.

Professor Stephen Jarvis, Head of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at Birmingham University, said: “BCRRE is setting the pace for rail innovation both in the UK and globally. The HydroFLEX project is a great example of how world-class R&D, together with the right industry partnerships, can deliver decarbonisation technologies that are both innovative and practical.”

Jarvis added that the current testing paves the way for the core technology to be fitted to current in-service trains by 2023.

He said: “Successful mainline testing is a major milestone for HydroFLEX and is a clear demonstration of the important role hydrogen has to play in the UK’s rail industry,” he said. “Through BCRRE and Porterbrook, we are looking forward to delivering this technology into the UK transport market, ensuring a cleaner future for our railways.”

The next stages of the project are already underway, with its developers working on producing a hydrogen-powered battery that slots under the train to make more room for passengers in the train's carriage.

The start of the trials coincides with the announcement by transport secretary Grant Shapps of an ambition to turn the Tees Valley in the North-East of England into a hub for hydrogen transport.

To this end, the Department of Transport has issued a masterplan to test the feasibility for this idea, to help accelerate it and moderate the UK's ambitions in the hydrogen sector.

Expected to be published in January, this masterplan will pave the way for exploring how green hydrogen could revolutionise the transport sector and move away from the country's total dependence on fossil fuels. The aim would then be for the region to become a global leader in industrial research on the subject of hydrogen as well as a fuel as well as an R&D hub for hydrogen transport in general.

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