The UK government have stated that hydrogen (H2) technology should be considered on the Great Western network between London and the West Country.
The Department for Transport (DFT) indicated that H2 could be used as an alternative power supply on smaller branch lines that will never be electrified.
Alstom, French developer of the world’s first H2-powered train, has been in in discussions with British operators regarding the technology and have recently signed a deal to build and operate 14 zero-emission H2 trains in Lower Saxony, Germany.
The majority of trains in Britain run on diesel despite concerns over harmful emissions. Less than half of the network is electrified. Successive governments have committed to further electrification but it has proved prohibitively expensive.
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