17 August 2021
Today the Government has published its Hydrogen Strategy, setting out how industries like transport can be supported through the development of hydrogen economies.
David Clarke, Technical Director of the Railway Industry Association (RIA), said: “It is positive to see the Government publish today a Hydrogen Strategy, setting out how it plans to develop hydrogen economies in the UK.
“Network Rail has identified that up to 1,300 kilometres of railway lines will require hydrogen trains in order to achieve the Government’s ‘Net Zero by 2050’ goal. Yet, as we say in RIA’s Rail Decarbonisation Campaign 21, if we are to successfully decarbonise our rail network we need to get started today, in 2021, both electrifying railways lines and beginning the production of hydrogen and battery trains.
“As the Government considers the roll out of this strategy, and the use of hydrogen in decarbonising the economy, we ask them to heed our ask to commit now to fleet orders of hydrogen rolling stock – in order to support green jobs and investment up and down the country.”