a new emission-free train
 

Alstom to develop a new emission-free train for passengers in Germany.
Alstom has signed Letter of Intents with Landers of Lower
Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg, and the
Public Transportation Authorities of Hesse, for the use of a new
generation of emission-free train equipped with fuel cell drive.

The German Federal Ministry of Transportation intends to support
the development of the train. Two prototypes will be tested in 2018.
This new train will be equipped with fuel cell drive – a device
that converts the energy from a fuel into electricity through a
chemical reaction. This technology has already been proven on the
automotive industry.

The new train will be based on Alstom Coradiaregional train. It will be completely emission-free and its noise level will be drastically reduced.
Furthermore, through the use of energy storage, as well as intelligent energy management system and a cost competitive fuel, the new train will consume less energy compared with a conventional diesel multiple unit.

“This new generation of train with fuel cell technology is the first
in the world for passenger transportation. In times of increasing
costs for energy and higher level of pollution, the development of a
completely emission-free train is key. We are proud that prominent
partners are supporting and sharing our vision of the railway
transportation of the future” says Henri Poupart-Lafarge, President
of Alstom Transport.
The new trains will be developed and manufactured at Alstom
Salzgitter site in Germany, the competence centre for regional
trains.

Interesting stuff, thanks Phillip.

Entertainingly enough - it looks like here in the UK we will be doing exactly the opposite and bringing our filthy old heritage diesel locos back into mainstream use.

From January next year, a new even tougher worldwide requirement for NON-ROAD MOBILE MACHINERY (funny, we call them trains round here !!!!) is so punitive that only the Class 68s are clean enough, whilst being small enough to fit the UK gauge.

66s for UK use can't be made 'clean enough' for the new regs, so from next year we can't buy any more of them. This is mainly because our gauge is so tiny that they can't fit the extra scrubbing kit inside the 66 body.

But 'grandfather rights' means we can use the locos we already have, so since there is a growing traction unit shortage for freight it is widely expected that lots of filthy old heritage traction will return to the mainline. John Smith (MD of GBRF) has already said that he will be looking into the possibility of hiring traction from preserved lines.

Personally I can't get enough of 37s, 55s etc so I'll be happy to see them back earning a living. But sadly it's not cleaning up the environment any.... and yet another example of how daft Legislators' interference has the opposite effect to that intended.

As my old dad used to say..."The world's gone mad."

That will be why GBRF have bought back a Foster Yeomans 59 from the continent.

I have a photo of it being dragged through Belper on its way to Eastleigh