The train, which in addition to hydrogen can also operate under electric and battery power, making it the world’s first ‘tri-mode’ hydrogen, electric and battery train, was developed in less than 12 months. During COP26 it will demonstrate how green hydrogen and innovative engineering can accelerate the delivery of a greener rail sector.
The HydroFLEX train at COP26 includes an on-board boardroom, giving invited special guests the chance to use the train to support the globally significant discussions that will take place in and around the international event.
Porterbrook has invested £8m in the latest version of HydroFLEX, and almost 30 UK companies have contributed to delivering the train over a 10-month build period. This train is the result of a collaboration between Porterbrook and the University of Birmingham, which received grant funding from Innovate UK.
On the HydroFLEX up to 277kg of hydrogen fuel is safely contained in 36 high pressure tanks, enough for over 300 miles of green powered operation. This is fed into fuel cells, where a chemical process converts the hydrogen and oxygen from the air to generate clean electricity. The only waste product is pure water.
On Friday November 5, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales met with teams from Network Rail and train technology companies Vivarail and Porterbrook to find out more about alternative fuel trains and the technology which will play a major part in powering Britain’s green rail revolution.
The Prince toured both HydroFLEX and Vivarail’s battery train. Both are being showcased by Network Rail at COP26 to demonstrate the rail industry’s commitment to further decarbonizing Britain’s railway and supporting the UK and Scottish Governments net zero targets.
The HydroFLEX train is set to run every day during the second week of COP26. Although the train is hydrogen-powered, it will be run on electricity while at COP26. Porterbrook has taken this decision as it enables the company to remove some of the safety paneling and show off the interior of the train’s hydrogen tanks, and the technology involved.