Hydrogen-Powered Train Makes Its First Trip in the UK

"Trials of a hydrogen-powered train are underway in the U.K.," reports CNBC: The HydroFLEX train — which has been developed by a team from the University of Birmingham and Porterbrook, a rolling stock firm — uses a fuel-cell which combines hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity, heat and water... It's hoped that the technology will be available to retrofit trains already in use by the year 2023...

Wednesday's news comes at the end of a month that's seen several interesting developments in the arena of hydrogen-powered transport. Last week, in airspace over England, a hydrogen fuel-cell plane capable of carrying passengers completed its maiden flight. A few days earlier, Airbus released details of three hydrogen-fueled concept planes, saying they could enter service by the year 2035. Earlier in the month ÖBB, the Austrian Federal Railways, said a hydrogen-powered train would commence a passenger service trial in southern areas of Lower Austria... According to the company, it can reach speeds of up to 140 kilometers per hour, is low-noise and "emits only steam and water."

"emits only steam and water."

[nospam007]

Or debris.

Best snarky response ever

[RogueWarrior65]

Two friends were discussing hydrogen power and one said, "When I hear hydrogen power I think The Hindenberg." To which the other friend responded, "When I hear windmill power I think Don Quixote."

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[uncoveror]

Oh, the humanity!

Why?

[rossdee]

Trains can be powered by electricity, through the rails. You don't need to carry liquid fuels with you.

Re:

[Ogive17]

From the article:

This version of the train, it added, would âoebe configured for operation using both overhead-electric-wires and hydrogen for non-electrified routes.

Not all rails are electrified.

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[account_deleted]

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Re:

[iggymanz]

but it's mostly a one time cost. meanwhile your "hydrogen" trains are really getting their hydrogen from fossil fuel, so you're emitting carbon dioxide anyway.

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[account_deleted]

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Re: Why?

[Malc]

Indeed it is expensive. This page gives an idea of the cost and complexity of upgrading existing infrastructure. Based on original estimates before the budget got badly blown, it would have taken 40 years to pay for the work:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wik... [wikipedia.org]

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[Anne Thwacks]

It's fairly obvious they would have electrified more of it were it always more cost effective than the alternatives.

Not at all.

It is fairly obvious that electrification (ie fitting overhead cables and improving the signalling to a half-way adequate standard) is capital expense - which is taxable in the UK because it represents an increase in the company value - whereas burning fuel is revenue expense - which is tax deductible.

In short UK accountancy rules prevent sensible investment - hence complete l

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[account_deleted]

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[tflf]

Yes, trains can be powered by either an electrified third-rail (subways use this system) or by overhead power lines. But, these systems require adding an electrical infrastructure to supply power, with added costs, and problems

Using batteries, or liquid fuel, to generate electrical power allows trains to run on trackage which are not electrified. There are many situations (industrial switching, and lower volume branch line operations for example) where a self-contained electric locomotive makes sense.

Stop the presses!

[PPH]

We have a last minute addition for the new edition [amazon.com].

Build a highway electric system

[gabebear]

Rather than building a hydrogen distribution system... why not just add power rails to the existing highway system? Lots of logistics to figure out, but I don’t see anything that couldn’t be tackled with technology from 50yrs ago.

UK railway system is a joke. This won't make it.

[Hammeh]

Currently in the UK, some trains still dump raw sewage directly onto the tracks. Even if this technology works, the dream that current private railway operators will adopt it is a pipe dream. They would literally rather let people crap all over the network than invest in new trains or technology.

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[iggymanz]

An anime the size of a horse makes 20kg of poop a day. You have all kinds of creatures shitting on the track in the countryside, it doesn't matter if some of that is human.

hahaha emits only steam and water

[iggymanz]

Nope, UK gets hydrogen from fossil fuels, methane and coal.