Alstom and Eversholt Rail unveil a new hydrogen train design for the UK^▸ (United Kingdom)

7 January 2019 – Alstom and Eversholt Rail have unveiled the design of a new hydrogen train for the UK market. The train, codenamed ‘Breeze’, will be a conversion of existing Class 321 trains, reengineering some of the UK’s most reliable rolling stock, to create a clean train for the modern age. These trains could run across the UK as early as 2022, emitting only water and no harmful emissions at all. 

The rolling stock conversion will be carried out by Alstom, working in partnership with Eversholt Rail and building upon an established business relationship spanning over 15 years and across multiple rolling stock fleets. This proven and reliable Class 321 is an excellent fit in terms of characteristics, fleet size and availability for conversion to a Hydrogen Multiple Unit (HMU).

Alstom and Eversholt Rail are working closely with industry stakeholders to develop the business cases and evaluate detailed introduction plans for fleets of these innovative trains and the associated fuelling infrastructure. Alstom and Eversholt Rail also confirmed that their initial, comprehensive engineering study is now complete, and the train design concept finalised. The innovative technical solution defined is the first to allow a hydrogen train to fit within the standard UK loading gauge, and it will also create more space for passengers than the trains they are intended to replace.

The Alstom facility in Widnes will manage the conversion of the Breeze trains, creating high quality engineering jobs in this new, emerging sector. 

The news follows the introduction in September of Alstom’s Coradia iLint hydrogen trains in Germany, where they now operate in regular passenger service on a daily basis. There is growing interest in Alstom’s hydrogen technology worldwide, including in France where the President of the Occitanie region, Carole Delga, recently announced a proposal to introduce the technology on trains there.

“Hydrogen train technology is an exciting innovation which has the potential to transform our railway, making journeys cleaner and greener by cutting CO2 emissions even further. We are working with industry to establish how hydrogen trains can play an important part in the future, delivering better services on rural and inter-urban routes,” said Andrew Jones MP^▸ (Member of Parliament), UK Rail Minister.

“Transport in the UK has evolved over centuries from the world’s first steam train to the tens of thousands of electric vehicles on our roads today thanks to our nation of innovators. This new hydrogen powered train, which will only emit water, is further proof of the UK’s continued creativity to transform the way we travel as we continue to move to a greener, cleaner economy. The UK is on track when it comes to growing a world-leading hydrogen economy, and through our modern Industrial Strategy we are providing £23 million to power our ambition to be the ‘go-to’ place for first-class hydrogen transport,” said Claire Perry MP, UK Minister for Energy and Clean Growth.

 “The Breeze will be a clean new train for the UK with a stylish, modern look. The railways need to decarbonise and the Government has rightly set out a goal to eliminate diesel rolling stock by 2040. Hydrogen trains offer an ideal solution for routes which are unlikely to benefit from electrification, and our innovative engineering solution means they can now fit within the UK loading gauge and can quickly be ready to roll on Britain’s railways. In Germany, Alstom’s hydrogen trains are already transporting passengers in the comfort and quiet that is characteristic of these trains. The Breeze offers British rail users the opportunity to share in the pleasure that is a journey on a hydrogen train,” added Nick Crossfield, Alstom UK & Ireland Managing Director.

“Eversholt Rail has an enviable record of innovation across its rolling stock portfolio.  Combining the experience gained from the successful Coradia iLint and Class 321 Renatus programmes will deliver a hydrogen-powered multiple unit product that will meet sponsors’ and train operators’ aspirations for the earliest possible fleet introduction,” added Eversholt Rail Client Relations Director Stephen Timothy.

There were a couple of Chris Grayling's statements I didn't understand.

1. He talked of the greed of the unions being responsible for the rises being so high.   Now I thought the rise was based totally on the price rises in the year to last August and nothing to do with the industry's labour cost. Or is he blaming the whole general inflation on the unions?
...

So you need a -- FREEMAN-HARDY-WILLIS- Now.

What? All stations or just the busier ones with an unfortunate history in these matters? Cannot see St Andrews Road or similar station being the recipient of that sort of expenditure.

Mr Stevens said limited changes would be made to existing stations – either because they were listed buildings or because of the amount of people using them – but that new build stations would see more radical redesigns.

“At the top end of the range are platform edge doors, like you get on the Jubilee Line, because we know that they are very effective, but we cannot retrofit them in this country because a lot of our platforms can’t support the weight,” he said.

Huge increase in capacity on GWR as final Class 800 enters traffic

More than 10,000 extra seats will be available to Great Western Railway passengers on January 2, compared with the same number last year.

This follows the delivery of the final Class 800 Intercity Express Train.

GWR says 658 new carriages have been introduced in the past 18 months, including 57 Class 800s as well as its Class 387 Electrostar fleet. A further 15 Class 802s are to be introduced during 2019.

GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood said: “The new Intercity Express Trains have already helped us increase seats on the journeys they operate by almost a quarter, and in the past three months are proving 20% more reliable than the older trains they are replacing. And they’ve helped deliver some of the best on-train satisfaction scores for some time – including improvements in seat comfort and on-board information.

“From the New Year, thanks to the progression of Network Rail’s electrification programme, we will also be able to run electric trains to Newbury for the first time.”

An IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) has 24% more seating per train than the High Speed Trains they are replacing.

Hitachi Rail Europe MD Karen Boswell said: “Thanks to the hard work of our teams across the country we’ve now delivered all the Intercity Express Trains for GWR’s mainline route, benefitting millions of journeys. From our train factory in the North East through to our dedicated maintenance teams in London, Bristol and Swansea, we are proud to be part of the Great Western family.”

Following completion of electrification to Newbury, Class 387s suburban commuter will start serving the town from January 2.

Network Rail Western Route MD Mark Langman said: “Passengers from London to the west and south west are now seeing the huge benefits of the biggest modernisation of the railway since it was built following years of upgrades and unprecedented investment.

“We have worked closely with GWR as the railway has been transformed in all regions that we cover.

“In 2019 the transformation will continue including in January where electric services will start at Bristol Parkway and Newbury for the first time.”
 

•   For the FULL story, read RAIL 870, published on January 16, and available digitally on Android, iPad and Kindle from January 12.

Perhaps "Travel via ..."

Are the residents of Sandbanks complaining they can't afford the ferry!!! Mind they have not had a lot of luck in the Poole area recently, took them a long time to sort their bridge out.

They never do, IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly).  It’s only really the main intercity operators that routinely do this, most (if not all) London commuter operators don’t relax restrictions.   Can’t say for northern areas...

Paul

Prestatyn (Pressed hat in).....

25.1 Is that 92220 Evening Star? If so it's between 1960 and 1965.

25.3 is Taunton, I mean Melksham

Merry Christmas, grahame, may your train be always on time, and may you never lose your loose change down the side of the seat (if you can get one)!