Alstom and Eversholt Rail have announced a plan to fast-track the hydrogen train industry in the UK with a further £1m investment in British hydrogen trains at their site in Widnes.
This means that the new class of ‘Breeze’ hydrogen train will be ready for early deployment in the UK to meet the Government’s need to decarbonise the rail industry.
Breeze trains will be built at Alstom’s Widnes Transport Technology Centre, which is fast becoming the UK’s premier centre for train modernisation.
Widnes will also become Alstom’s worldwide centre of excellence for hydrogen conversion when this project is in series production, creating over 200 high quality engineering jobs in the North West.
When powered by green hydrogen, these trains offer true zero-emission mobility, not just zero emission at point of use. The only emission from a hydrogen train is water; it produces no harmful particulate or gaseous emissions.
Cllr Ron Hignett, Halton Borough Council’s portfolio holder for the physical environment, says: “It is fantastic news that Eversholt Rail and Alstom are investing a further £1m in hydrogen trains which will be built here in Halton. This will create jobs and put the borough at the forefront of hydrogen train techology, which is clean, green and cost-effective. »
Hydrogen trains are ideally suited to regional rail services on routes that are not currently electrified. This new investment will ensure that Breeze trains are ready for swift deployment in the UK wherever electrification with overhead wires might be impractical or visually intrusive.
The pioneering of a hydrogen train fleet is a notable step in the path towards decarbonising the UK railway.
“It’s time to jump-start the UK hydrogen revolution. With the Government looking to invest in green technologies, Alstom and Eversholt Rail have deepened our already extensive commitment to this job-creating technology with a further million-pound investment. This bold move to back the Government’s ambitions on hydrogen means we are the only game in town if you want a shovel ready British hydrogen train. The Breeze is good to go, wherever the Government commits to upgrading Britain’s railway with hydrogen trains,” said Nick Crossfield, Managing Director, UK & Ireland
Mary Kenny, CEO of Eversholt Rail, said “Eversholt Rail has a proud record of innovation in key rolling stock technologies and this further investment in the Breeze programme demonstrates our commitment to providing timely, cost-effective solutions to the identified need for hydrogen trains to support the decarbonisation of the UK railway.”