Trains: Hydrogen

(asked on 18th November 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has for the use of hydrogen-powered trains on the rail network.


Answered by
Chris Heaton-Harris Portrait
Chris Heaton-Harris
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
This question was answered on 23rd November 2020

The Government supports the use of new technologies like hydrogen-powered trains to decarbonise the railway and help us meet our net zero carbon emissions by 2050 target. The Network Rail-led Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy indicates that decarbonising the railway by 2050 will involve a mix of the deployment of alternative traction technologies and further electrification.

The Government is supporting the development of battery and hydrogen technology through innovation funding and research. This includes work on safety and wider issues that will have to be considered to allow battery and hydrogen trains smooth entry onto the network.

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