Alstom and Eversholt Rail sign up for hydrogen train fleet

Alstom and Eversholt Rail have today (10^th November) signed an MoU to deliver the UK’s first-ever brand-new hydrogen train fleet.

Both companies work together, sharing technical and commercial information necessary for Alstom to design, build, commission, and support a fleet of 10 three-car hydrogen multiple units (HMUs) built by Alstom in Britain. The new HMU fleet will be based on the latest evolution of the Alstom Aventra platform. The final contracts for the fleet will be signed in early 2022.

Alstom and Eversholt Rail have previously worked on a hydrogen rolling stock solution for the UK rail sector through the proposed conversion of an existing Electric Multiple Unit to hydrogen power – the ‘Breeze’ project. The new project would be built upon knowledge and experience gained from the Breeze project and stakeholder feedback on future fleet strategies.

Alstom was the first company to produce a hydrogen-powered train, the Coradia iLint, operational service in Germany.

Nick Crossfield, MD Alstom UK and Ireland, said, “Rail is already the lowest emission transport mode, but we can do even more.”

Mary Kenny, CEO of Eversholt Rail, commented, “Hydrogen propulsion will play an important role, and this project with Alstom will demonstrate how the private sector can work together to make a difference.”