The war on climate change is fought on different fronts. One way to reduce pollution is to transform the public transport as we know it. The first train to be powered by hydrogen in the UK is called Hydroflex. It was created by engineers from the University of Birmingham and the British rail company Porterbrook. Since they introduced a new technology, their intention was for the passengers to sit alongside the fuel cell because they felt that by doing so, people would be more keen on accepting the latest tech advancement. One reason for the potential passengers’ discomfort is the disreputable history of hydrogen as a power source. Namely, hydrogen is extremely flammable, however engineers have taken precautions and secured it in high-pressure tanks. The idea of having water as the only waste product seems very appealing in a world dying of pollution. Hydrogen-powered trains could be a much cheaper alternative to electric trains since electrifying a single kilometre of track can cost up to £1m.
