UK to have hydrogen trains by 2022

Ambitious plans have been unveiled today by rail manufacturer Alstom which will see hydrogen (H2) trains rolled out across the UK as early as 2022.
The train, codenamed ‘Breeze’, will be a conversion of existing Class 321 trains, reengineering some of the country’s most reliable rolling stock, to create a clean train for the modern age.
Alstom, working in partnership with Eversholt Rail, will carry out the conversion.
The two companies confirmed their initial, comprehensive engineering study is now complete and the train design concept is finalised.
The innovative technical solution defined is the first to allow a H2 train to fit within the standard UK loading gauge, and it will also create more space for passengers than the trains they are intended to replace.

UK Rail Minister Andrew Jones MP said H2 train technology is an exciting innovation which has the potential to transform railways, making journeys cleaner and greener by cutting CO2 emissions even further. “We are working with industry to establish how H2 trains can play an important part in the future, delivering better services on rural and inter-urban routes,” he added.

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