Hydrogen Powered Trains Defined: May They Be The Future Of Journey?

In the event you’re in Quebec this summer season, you possibly can journey the Alstom practice from Quebec Metropolis to Baie-Saint-Paul by way of the tip of September. And hydrogen trains are already absolutely operational in Germany. However what does the way forward for rail journey appear to be in North America?

Whereas different components of the world have extra readily adopted passenger rail — notably high-speed rail — it has been much less fashionable in North America. However that does not imply hydrogen trains aren’t coming. Amtrak California, for instance, has hydrogen-powered passenger trains at the moment on order for 2027. North America additionally has giant expanses of open land the place it may be tough and costly to construct infrastructure resembling overhead electrical cables for railcars. Hydrogen trains are a wonderful answer for simply this state of affairs.

Freight rail firms are additionally wanting to get in on locomotive expertise that may scale back dangerous emissions whereas additionally decreasing bills. BNSF Railway Firm, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, is working with companions on hydrogen gas cell expertise for this goal, although it is possible nonetheless years away from manufacturing.

Hydrogen trains aren’t the future of passenger rail — they’re the current. They’re already right here. It simply is determined by the place “right here” is in relation to you. However with the promise of the expertise being so nice, you would possibly end up aboard a hydrogen-powered practice prior to you assume.