Hydrogen Briefing KEY ASK: We are calling on the Government to commit to a hydrogen train fleet in the forthcoming Hydrogen Strategy.
The RailDecarb21 Campaign
Pilot projects would provide a demonstration of how hydrogen could be rolled out, supporting decarbonisation, economic growth and the development of a burgeoning UK hydrogen sector.
This Briefing is part of RIA's Rail Decarbonisation 2021 Campaign, which is calling for a specific commitment to decarbonise the rail network from Government, through further electrification work and fleet orders of low carbon, selfpowered rolling stock, ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) taking place in Glasgow in November 2021.
USING HYDROGEN ON THE RAIL NETWORK Hydrogen trains will have a vital role to play - alongside conventional electrification - as the UK looks to develop a Net Zero economy by 2050. Other countries are already making progress in developing hydrogen trains, with RIA Members Alstom's iLint hydrogen train fleet running in Austria and Siemens partnering with DeutscheBahn to develop a prototype train in Germany.
You can show your support for the campaign on social media using: #RailDecarb21 and by downloading our supporters' social media card on our website here:
At present, hydrogen trains can reach up to 100mph speed and a range of 600 to 800 miles. These trains would therefore be a plausible direct replacement for
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www.riagb.org.uk/RailDecarb21 There are opportunities to develop hydrogen rail lines in areas where hydrogen is produced as a by-product, such as in the chemical industry. The technologies are not new - scaling up from existing technologies and many have been proven in other sectors already.
Private businesses stand ready to invest £3bn into hydrogen projects in the UK today Hydrogen Strategy Now Campaign
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Currently, there is a lack of infrastructure to enable the trains to run. Green hydrogen is needed to power fuel cell engines and hydrogen of the right quality and purity is in short supply. With some initial investment in the sector for infrastructure, the roll out of hydrogen fleets can occur.
existing diesel passenger rolling stock on longer and less intensively used regional routes, with speeds of 100mph or less, where there is no economic case for electrification.
REPLACING DIESEL TRAINS
Network Rail's interim Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy highlighted that 1,000-3,300km of railway will require hydrogen trains if the UK is to meet its 2050 Net Zero target. There may be an increased interim role on routes where electrification is planned, to deliver immediate carbon savings and improvements in passenger experience whilst electrification is rolled out. Kings Buildings, 16 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HQ +44 (0)20 7201 0777
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One of the key benefits of using hydrogen would be to replace current diesel passenger rolling stock with a low carbon alternative. It is estimated that about 3,000-3,300 diesel passenger vehicles that will need to be replaced, re-engined or converted in order to reach the 2040 goal. Of these, 2,400 trains could be replaced with alternative low-carbon options such as hydrogen or battery, with either new build or refurbished trains. ria@riagb.org.uk www.riagb.org.uk
Hydrogen Briefing Spring 2021
open for businesses to demonstrate how green hydrogen can be used to power transport solutions Orders of hydrogen train fleets would help stimulate the for end users.Developing this sector further could also rail supply chain across the UK even further. give the UK a competitive advantage, helping it to develop technologies that it could then sell overseas, Many businesses in the rail industry are already working boosting UK exports at a critical time for the economy. in the hydrogen space, but support from Government As the examples below demonstrate, the industry is could unlock even more investment, supporting green ready to deliver a hydrogen fleet order and support jobs and economic growth, particularly in areas where the Government at it looks to 'build back better' post'hydrogen economies' are planned, like the Tees Valley. Coronavirus. For example, there is currently a £2.5m competition SUPPORTING THE ECONOMY HOW IS RAIL FUNDED?
EXAMPLES OF HYDROGEN IN RAIL The UK has a number of businesses developing hydrogen train fleets. The Alstom Breeze: The Breeze has been developed by Alstom on the basis of the proven technology embodied in Alstom’s Coradia iLint - two trains which have operated over 180,000km in passenger service near Hamburg demonstrating reliable and safe operation in normal revenue operation for over 18 months. Breeze is based on the successful Class 321 electric multiple units owned by Eversholt Rail. These units operate widely in the UK but are approaching the end of their current leases and so can be made available for conversion. Porterbrook & Birmingham Centre for Rail Research and Education (BCRRE): BCRRE and Porterbrook developed the UK’s first hydrogen powered train in just nine months. From concept to launch at RailLive in June 2019, the team designed, developed, built, commissioned and carried out a low speed test operation of a fully working hydrogen fuel cell train. In September 2020, HydroFLEX started mainline testing and the production version is being configured for operation using both overhead-electric-wires and hydrogen for non-electrified routes. Scotland’s Zero Emission Train Project: Scottish Enterprise, Transport Scotland and the Hydrogen Accelerator, based at the University of St Andrews, have partnered with Arcola Energy and Angel Trains to deliver Scotland’s first hydrogen powered train, providing investment in the country’s green hydrogen refuelling infrastructure and offering a zerocarbon alternative to its rail network. Based at the Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway, the consortium plans to convert a Class 314 car passenger train, made available by ScotRail, with the first demonstration of the hydrogen powered train at COP26. Kings Buildings, 16 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HQ +44 (0)20 7201 0777
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ria@riagb.org.uk www.riagb.org.uk