<p>Porterbrook has won BusinessGreen’s Transport Project of the Year award for the UK’s first hydrogen train, HydroFLEX.</p>
<p>The HydroFLEX train ran on the mainline tracks for the first time only a few weeks ago following almost two years’ development work and more than £1million of investment by both Porterbrook and the University of Birmingham.</p>
<p>Unlike diesel trains, hydrogen-powered trains do not emit harmful gases, instead using hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, water and heat. The ground-breaking technology behind the trains will also be available by 2023 to retrofit current in-service trains to hydrogen helping decarbonise the rail network and make rail journeys greener and more efficient.</p>
<p>Mary Grant, CEO of Porterbrook, said: “We are delighted to have won BusinessGreen’s Transport Project of the Year for our pioneering hydrogen train, HydroFLEX. The work we have done with the University of Birmingham has been ground-breaking in terms of zero-emissions transport. At Porterbrook we take our responsibility for de-carbonising the railways very seriously and this award only bolsters our motivation to keep innovating.”</p>
<p>HydroFLEX is able to run in bi-mode operations meaning it can use electric overhead supplies as well as run independently on hydrogen.</p>
<p>Looking towards the future, the next stages of HydroFLEX are already well underway, as the University of Birmingham develops a hydrogen and battery powered module that can be fitted underneath the train, which will allow for more space for passengers in the train’s carriage.</p>