<h4>HydroFLEX</h4>
<p>In September 2018, Porterbrook paired up with the University of Birmingham’s Centre for Railway Research and Education (‘BCRRE’) to create HydroFlex - the UK’s first hydrogen powered train. It is Porterbrook’s and BCRRE’s innovative response to the governments challenge to remove diesel only trains from the network by 2040.</p>
<p>Porterbrook has provided a ‘Class 319’ electric unit to BCRRE for conversion into a hydrogen powered train.&nbsp; This will allow both organisations to demonstrate how this fuel-of-the-future might be deployed across the UK’s rail network. Testing and demonstration runs are scheduled for summer 2019.</p>
<p>While the HydroFlex retains the ability to operate across existing electric routes (on either 3rd rail or 25kV overhead power), the addition of a hydrogen fuel cell will make it capable of operating in self-powered mode, without the need for diesel engines.</p>