A hydrogen-powered train will take delegates to the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) this November after infrastructure manager Network Rail (NR) agreed to work with Porterbrook to take a HydroFLEX class 799 to Scotland.
The plan is to showcase the best of British low-carbon train technology at COP26, which this year is being held in Glasgow.
The train has been converted internally and is fitted with an “on-board boardroom” that invited guests will be able to use.
It is envisaged that the HydroFlex may also be used to take visitors to the Zero Emission Train, Scotland’s first hydrogen-powered train, which is currently being rebuilt from a former ScotRail EMU.
NR is also in the early stages of planning a similar event with Vivarail to bring an operational battery train to COP26.
“We have ambitious targets to decarbonise our network and developing new technologies like hydrogen and hybrid trains will be key to delivering on those commitments,” says Mr Alex Hynes, managing director of Scotland’s Railway. “During COP26 the world will be watching Glasgow, and this will be a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate how rail will play its part in making a greener future.”
Porterbrook has spent £7mon the latest HydroFlex, which will be used to showcase hydrogen traction to transport authorities across Britain following COP26.
