News Front HydroFlex on the main line: No 799001 passes year (p88, July 2019 issue), the Clayfield level crossing en-route from Evesham to University received grant funding Long Marston on 25 September 2020. Philip Sherratt through the Department for Transport’s First of a Kind (FOAK) competition in conjunction with Innovate UK towards the start of main line testing. The trial has seen Class 319 EMU No 319001 rechristened as No 799001. On board the train space within one of the four carriages houses batteries, a hydrogen fuel cell and hydrogen tanks. The two batteries are supplied by Denchi and work in hybrid with the fuel cell from Canadian firm Ballard, which is controlled by software written by the University. The hydrogen tanks are supplied by Luxfer. AUTOMATION Dr Stuart Hilmansen, Reader in Railway Traction Systems at the University of Birmingham, told Modern Railways work over the last year has concentrated on automating functions within the train to reduce human input, including further development of HYDROFLEX TAKES the university’s control software. An important factor in moving trials from Long Marston onto the main line was technical robustness TO THE MAIN LINE and reliability improvements. In particular, work has focused CLASS 799 MAKES DEBUT RUN ON COTSWOLD LINE on the amount of power provided HYDROFLEX, THE UK’s first Secretary Grant Shapps travelled and the University of Birmingham, by the fuel cell and batteries full size hydrogen train, made on the train and announced that which have together invested to avoid the possibility of an its debut on the main line on the Tees Valley would host the more than £1 million in the project. over current event. As part of 21 September, travelling from UK’s first hydrogen transport hub. Following the unveiling of the train this, notch four on the driver’s Long Marston to Evesham and The Class 319 conversion has at the Quinton Rail Technology controls has been disabled, with back. On 29 September Transport been developed by Porterbrook Centre at Long Marston last notch three modified and weak (p20, last month). KCC has requested that the Department CANTERBURY TO READING for Transport’s new Train Service Requirement (TSR) for South Eastern specifies that all Mainline SERVICE IN KENT PLAN and High Speed trains which pass the station will stop there. HIGH-SPEED BI-MODES FOR MARSHLINK LINE ALSO SOUGHT Platform extensions at KENT COUNTY Council has of Kent’s rail passenger network thereby reduce overall journey Maidstone West would enable gone out to consultation on for at least the next decade.’ times to London. In the down 12-car operation of High Speed its Kent Rail Strategy 2021, Building on Network Rail’s direction an earlier crossover would services to/from Maidstone an ambitious document 2018 Kent Area Route Study, the be used by trains to cross from West. ‘While demand at that includes the idea of strategy document discusses high-speed down to high-speed Maidstone West does not require extending Great Western’s infrastructure proposals such as up lines, before using the new 12-car operation,’ says the Reading to Gatwick service the creation of a new crossover crossover to access the main line. Strategy, ‘the benefit of running as far as Canterbury West, between the high-speed and The proposal for a new 12-car trains on this service is reaching the cathedral city main line routes at Dollands Moor, connection at Ashford that they would provide the via Tonbridge and Ashford. near the entrance to Channel International that would allow capacity required to meet the KCC says the principal Tunnel. Such a link would enable trains from HS1 to access the substantial demand at Strood, purpose of the Strategy 2021 high-speed services from Dover Marshlink line is considered, with Gravesend and Ebbsfleet, thus is ‘to influence the service and Priory, Folkestone Central and the Strategy saying a Strategic offering relief to the already fleet specifications which will Folkestone West stations to cross Outline Business Case on this overcrowded High Speed inform the next South Eastern over in the up direction on to the project should be finished service via Medway. Any further agreement, whether that is high-speed up line, rather than by the end of this year. development work would be a concession, contract or other running to Ashford on the historic A new station is due to open dependent on confirmation of arrangement, for the operation line as they do now – and could at Thanet Parkway in 2022 12-car operation of High Speed 14 Modern Railways November 2020 www.keymodernrailways.com News Front field behaviour introduced, HYDROGEN RAFT extender’. ‘We see hydrogen would use hydrogen created enabling a higher top speed to As the next stage, the University trains as complementary to through electrolysis, combining be attained. At Long Marston the has received a further FOAK electrification’ says Dr Hilmansen, water with renewable electricity’ train was only operating at up to grant from the Department for noting the synergy with Network he explains. ‘We’re working with 25mph, whereas it achieved a top Transport towards development Rail’s recently published Traction Fuel Cell Systems and TP Group, speed of 50mph during trials of a hydrogen raft. This would Decarbonisation Network Strategy and want a method decoupled on the Cotswold line between enable the batteries and fuel cell (TDNS – p12, last month). ‘We can from fossil fuels which solves Honeybourne and Evesham. to be housed underneath the two design for any duty cycle – in fully the decarbonisation problem Preparing the train for main driving vehicles rather than in autonomous mode the hydrogen for ever. Hydrogen will always line operation also involved the saloon, freeing up space for range could be up to 600 miles, be more expensive than diesel, the navigation of a complex passengers. Dr Hilmansen notes although this may need some but with diesel you don’t pay for approvals process. Helen Simpson, that while achieving a speed of equipment above the solebar. In the external costs, and hydrogen Innovation and Projects Director 50mph represents good progress, mixed mode you could readily power will still be a lot cheaper for Porterbrook, explained this it is not fast enough for many main build in a range of 200 miles under than electrification on the largely follows the same process line applications, and performance hydrogen power.’ Ms Simpson says lightly-used parts of the network.’ as it would to gain approval for analysis will be undertaken the design would be route-specific, In terms of timescales, the a brand new train, although to determine the power and depending on the duty cycle expiry of the FOAK funding for the fact HydroFlex is operating hydrogen storage requirements and operational characteristics. repackaging the equipment in a test environment and is to operate at a higher speed. A further challenge is into a hydrogen raft beneath not carrying passengers eased ‘At Porterbrook we want to ensuring a supply of hydrogen. the vehicles next summer sets some of these challenges. The present a fleet of hydrogen Dr Hilmansen explains the a deadline for the next stage approvals process comprised trains as a commercial offering University is currently working of the project. Ms Simpson several stages, including a hazard to operators’ Ms Simpson adds, on a Hydrohub project looking says targets for development record with mitigations and noting that moving equipment at generating green hydrogen; of HydroFlex will be driven evidence, a technical compliance out of passenger saloons is current hydrogen production by the needs of the market, assessment and then route an important element of this. from steam methane refining but Porterbrook would like compatibility works, with technical Porterbrook will apply learning creates CO2 emissions at source. to begin series production of assistance provided by Ricardo. from its Class 769 Flex electric/ ‘The long-term view is that we Class 799s by the end of 2022. With these three stages diesel bi-mode units, which have completed, the outcome was placed diesel engines beneath TEES VALLEY HYDROGEN HUB presented to the Office of Rail the driving vehicles. Ms Simpson and Road, which studied both does not rule out retro-fitment Mott MacDonald is to create The masterplan, expected to be the safety documentation and on other classes of train but a masterplan for development of published in January, will pave the operational plans from Rail notes a lot of work has been a hydrogen transport hub in the Tees the way for exploring how green Operations Group, the partner for undertaken on converting ‘319s’. Valley. Transport Secretary Grant hydrogen could power buses, HGVs, operational testing. At present Shapps made the announcement as rail, maritime and aviation transport HydroFlex has been cleared only RANGE EXTENDER he travelled on the HydroFlex unit on across the UK. The aim would then to work on the short section of The Class 799 retains its overhead 29 September. be for the region to become a global the Cotswold line on which it has power capability, so could use The Government says the Tees leader in industrial research on the been trialled, but Ms Simpson existing sections of electrified Valley is perfectly placed to embrace subject of hydrogen as a fuel as well suggests it would be a relatively track before switching to hydrogen the use of hydrogen following as a research and development simple process to achieve route power to operate away from the development of the world’s hub for hydrogen transport more clearance for other lines. the wires, operating as a ‘range largest hydrogen refuelling facility. generally. services in the TSR for the new South Eastern agreement’.