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Institution calls for urgent action to
introduce hydrogen trains in areas outside the electrified rail
network.
Investment in hydrogen trains is a vital part of the
process to improve air quality, but must not be seen as an easy
replacement for electrification schemes, according to a new
report by the Institution of Mechanical
Engineers.
Hydrogen, which can be used as an alternative for
fossil fuels only producing water as waste emission at the point
of use, is a clean technology that can help decarbonise the
railway industry.
Around 29% of Britain's fleet currently run only on
diesel fuel which emits large concentrations of particulate
matter, known to be damaging to our health, particularly at
enclosed stations.
However, the report emphasises that hydrogen trains
could be seen as a solution by Government to avoid expensive
electrification schemes, but stresses that hydrogen trains should
only be seen as an option where electrification is not the most
economical or technically viable, for example on rural
routes.
Furthermore, the report explains why hydrogen is not
suitable for freight and high-speed trains because it requires a
large amount of storage space.
The report builds on the findings of the
Institution’s A breath of fresh air: New solutions to
reduce transport emissions, which called for a Clean Air Act
to help the 71% of local authorities which missed their 2017 air
quality targets.
Dr Jenifer Baxter, Head of Engineering at the
Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said:
“The Government has set out plans to phase-out the
use of diesel-only trains by 2040 in order to reduce carbon
emissions, but less than 50% of the network is electrified and
the remaining half is unlikely to ever completely become so,
particularly given the cancellation of three schemes in the
North, the Midlands and Wales.
"Creating hydrogen clusters, a collection of
businesses associated with the hydrogen industry, around where
hydrogen is produced could help local transport systems in the
UK's regions to decarbonise. Trains and buses which operate near
industries where hydrogen is produced could use hydrogen as a
fuel, as production, storage and refuelling would be nearby,
thereby reducing fuel distribution and transport
costs.”
David Shirres, member of the Institution's Railway
Division, said:
“Until recently, diesel engines were the only
practicable option for self-powered rail vehicles. Yet diesel
fumes in city centres are becoming increasingly unacceptable as
shown by proposals for ultra low emission zones as well as the
Government’s call to remove diesel-only trains by
2040.
“The recent introduction of a hydrogen powered trains
on rural routes in Germany offers a solution which needs further
development for operation in the UK. However, storing hydrogen
requires significantly more space than diesel fuel. For this
reason, hydrogen is not suitable for high-powered rail traction
and so should not be considered as an alternative to
electrification.”
The future for hydrogen trains in the
UK recommends three priority areas for
action:
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That the UK Government rethinks the cancellation of
electrification programmes and moves forward with a more
innovative, and long-term approach, electrification rolling
programme, that can create skills and careers, develop supply
chains, and work with existing rail networks to manage
projects.
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That the industry encourages the development and
deployment of hydrogen trains and their fuelling and servicing
facilities. Creating and supporting demonstration lines and
trains will help to de-risk the technologies and servicing
relating to hydrogen fuels and trains.
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That hydrogen train technology is developed in
industrial areas where hydrogen production already occurs, and
can support the wider transport system. For example, as well as
local trains, local hydrogen buses could be refuelled at an
industrial site, and hydrogen could also be pumped into the gas
grid to help decarbonise heat. Both the North West and the
North East could support test beds. These test beds will
support knowledge sharing across sectors, providing cost
reductions in hydrogen fuel.
