According to a report in International Rail Journal, Alstom (www.alstom.com) confirmed on 11 September that it is working with British rolling-stock leasing company Eversholt Rail to fit Class 321 EMUs with hydrogen tanks and fuel cells for hydrogen operation, in response to the British Government’s challenge to eliminate diesel operation on the national network by 2040.

Alstom says that batches of up to 15 trains will be converted at its facility at Widnes (near Liverpool) and that the first could be ready by 2021. Eventually, 100 Class 321s could be converted.

The reports says that these trains could initially be used in the North East (possibly on the Tees Valley Line between Bishop Auckland and Middlesbrough) and in the North West (between Liverpool and Widnes).

According to Alstom, they will have a range of 1,000km and a maximum speed of 140kph.

Nick Crossfield, managing director of Alstom UK & Ireland, said: “We think the potential long-term application of hydrogen in Britain is very significant.

“Less than 50% of the UK network is electrified, and much that isn’t electrified is unlikely ever to be so. Starting with this conversion, we think hydrogen could offer the right zero-carbon solution for many parts of the network.”

British Rail Engineering Ltd built 117 Class 321s in the period 1988-91 for regional and commuter services. Most of the fleet will come off-lease within the next few years, as Abellio Greater Anglia takes delivery of new Aventra EMUs from Bombardier.