Hydrogen power actually makes a lot more sense for trains than it does for cars – no need to add hydrogen pumps to gas filling stations and smaller distribution networks needed (only certain train depots need to be retrofitted and have hydrogen deliveries).

So it makes sense to look at hydrogen power for trains, and this is precisely what the Premier of Ontario Dalton McGuinty has suggested. It has been reported that he has already been in talks with Bombardier, a train manufacturer, to build a hydrogen train. It is envisaged that a new line will be built between Montreal and Toronto. McGuinty is hoping the first train will be in service by 2010.

It is not the first time that Bombardier have been linked with eco-friendly trains – there were plans for a hydrogen train in Europe a few years ago however funding was not forthcoming and the project was dropped.

It’s not all positive in that we have no carbon-free way of producing hydrogen, so the trains will not be carbon-neutral, however they are a cleaner way of running trains than traditional fuels such as diesel. There is talk that if the new train goes ahead it will use fuel cells to enable it to run without wires or power rails. It is likely that the hydrogen will be sourced from two nuclear power plants which conveniently run alongside the Toronto-Montreal line.

Popularity: 16% [?]