Green Travel: Spain Announces New High-Speed Hydrogen Train

As part of the country’s push for efficient and environmentally friendly transport, Spain has just announced its new, high-speed hydrogen train. While the EU country already led the race in rail options, it has now pushed itself to the top relating to green travel.

Spain announces new high-speed hydrogen train

When it comes to Europe, the range of rail transport is phenomenal as compared to the US, but Spain has now topped train travel. It’s newest high-speed train is hydrogen-powered, which is not only efficient but leaves no carbon footprint. Built by the iconic train builders, Talgo, the new high-speed train running on hydrogen leaves the rest of Europe and the UK way behind in the green travel race.

Before the latest move, Spain has been ahead when it comes to high-speed rail travel but it now takes yet another step towards carbon-friendly travel. This new train is likely to revolutionize the future of global high-speed rail travel.

Admittedly, the UK has been trialing HydroFLEX, its own hydrogen-powered train since 2020. While this is a good move, Britain is way behind countries like Span and Germany to launch a hydrogen-run trail system.

Repsol and Talgo joined forces for a renewable energy train

It was in 2021 that Repsol joined Talgo to produce Spain’s first renewable hydrogen train. Meanwhile, the new technology offers many benefits besides being green. The technology will benefit Spain both environmentally and economically. Moreover, a hydrogen filling station is much cheaper than laying down overhead cables for electric trains, which adds to its benefits.

Spain’s new evolutional green train will likely change the future of high-speed travel in the world. The train runs on fuel cells that pump out nothing but water vapor. This clean, green mode of transport will slash the high costs of traditional electric trains.

As reported by Forbes, the new green trains were first brought up last November in a report by the engineering consultancy, Ineco. It certainly looks like Spain will be the first in a more widespread environmentally friendly mode of transport.

UK’s efforts towards hydrogen-fueled transport

As reported on Rail Business Daily, the UK is striving towards its 2050 net zero target with hydrogen-powered transport. According to Andy Bagnall, Chief Executive at Rail Partners, this is “the sustainable travel mode of choice,” adding:

But, if we’re to prove that railways are a truly green alternative to roads, one thing remains clear: we must decarbonize the network.

While the country’s 2020 Traction Decarbonization Network Strategy (TDNS), looked like it would achieve that status. The UK’s focus on electrification has now been called into question and the only way they can resolve it is by introducing hydrogen-powered trains to catch up with its European neighbors