In its response to an All Party Parliamentary Group on Hydrogen’s inquiry, the Railway Industry Association has called for investment in green hydrogen and battery trains as a way for the Government to spearheaded an environmentally-friendly economic recovery.

The response sets out that:

• Hydrogen trains are a viable option for the UK rail network – there is already a new build hydrogen train fleet in operation in Germany and at least three UK demonstrators based on surplus electric trains.
• Hydrogen has a role in decarbonising the UK rail network by 2040, specifically on less intensively used lines of up to 100mph speeds. For intensively used parts of the network, electrification is required and an investment in a hydrogen fleet should not be seen as an alternative to a rolling programme of electrification, as a solution to decarbonising rail.
• The UK rail industry is now developed in hydrogen technology.
• KEY ASK: Now is the time for the UK Government to support all modes of clean train traction, including hydrogen fuelled train fleets, in order to stimulate the UK market, provide low carbon rail links and deliver economic growth and investment to the economy.