Hydrogen has been transported by rail for the first time on Britain’s rail network- a major breakthrough for both the rail and energy sectors. Hydrogen Scotland member GeoPura and rail partner Freightliner successfully completed the trial using Network Rail’s Test Tracks at Tuxford. With hydrogen currently delivered by road, this milestone demonstrates how Britain’s rail network could become a key part of the hydrogen supply chain.
Britain’s first shipment of hydrogen by rail was achieved on 3rd December at Network Rail’s Test Tracks site in Tuxford, where freight operator Freightliner hauled a train of gas containers from Doncaster to High Marnham. Test Tracks are the longest railway testing facilities in Europe, spanning over 40 miles (62 kilometres) across two diverse sites – Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire and Tuxford in Nottinghamshire.
Network Rail’s site at Tuxford extends to High Marnham, where it sits adjacent to HyMarnham Power, the UK’s largest green hydrogen production facility, operated by GeoPura and JG Pears. Built on the site of a former coal-fired power station, HyMarnham Power is one of the world’s first rail-connected hydrogen production facilities, and Network Rail’s Tuxford site will be the world’s first net-zero railway testing facility.
Andrew Cunningham, CEO of GeoPura, said: “Hydrogen has a vital role in removing diesel from Britain’s rail network, providing zero-emission power where electrification alone cannot reach. Excitingly, we’re also showing that the rail network is a great way of transporting clean fuel to connected customers who can’t get the power they need from the traditional distribution grid.”
The first rail shipment of hydrogen made at Tuxford was part of a rail and energy industry innovation event showcasing several hydrogen initiatives. This event was held in partnership with organisations across the rail and energy sectors, including Freightliner, HyMarnham Power, GeoPura, Vanguard Sustainable Transport Solutions, Enspired Consulting, Rail Operations Group, Toyota UK and JCB. Exhibits included HPU hydrogen-powered generators, lighting towers, support vehicles and the first re-engineered hydrogen-powered shunting locomotive – seen as a step towards replacing diesel – another milestone towards the rail industry’s goal of becoming net zero.
Leevan Finney, Network Rail’s engineering services director, said: “Rail is the greenest form of long-distance transport, and we, as an industry, are working hard to decarbonise transport and achieve net zero. For 200 years the railway has connected communities and major industry across Britain. Today, the railway has the potential to be a strategic hydrogen distribution network in the future, as it has been for energy for many years. By bringing together rail and energy innovators here at Test Tracks in Tuxford, we’re accelerating Britain’s journey to net zero and showing how rail and energy sectors can work together to deliver sustainable transport and energy distribution.”
This breakthrough marks a major step towards the rail network becoming a ready-made hydrogen distribution system, a rolling pipeline, with connections to all major industrial and urban centres across Britain – proving the practical capability of rail to transport hydrogen at scale. Hydrogen will also be utilised to decarbonise wider rail operations, from construction to ongoing maintenance and off-grid operations.
Andrew Cunningham concluded: “By supplying locally produced green hydrogen from HyMarnham Power to this first-of-its-kind rail application, we’re showing that clean fuel, proven technology and existing rail infrastructure work together right now to cut carbon and improve air quality across the network. GeoPura is delighted to support Network Rail and its partners as they show what the future of a net-zero railway looks like in practice.”
Learn more at Network Rail news: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/network-rails-test-tracks-takes-centre-stage-as-hydrogen-is-delivered-by-rail-for-the-first-time
