Hydrogen on track for passenger and freight rail
Europe leads way with passenger trains while North America focuses on locomotives for freight
It may be early days in the development of hydrogen-powered trains and locomotives but their future is bright as net-zero emission commitments by governments around the world pile on the pressure to decarbonise passenger and freight rail systems. Diesel continues to dominate global rail transport, accounting for nearly 60pc in 2019, with electricity accounting for the rest. Hydrogen is aimed at rail routes which are difficult to electrify and out of range for batteries. “There are two ways to decarbonise hard to electrify train routes, battery power for distances up to around 120km, although that can be impacted by factors such as topography and number of stops, and hydrogen for routes longe
Also in this section
25 February 2026
Low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia development is advancing much more slowly and unevenly than once expected, with high costs and policy uncertainty thinning investment. Meanwhile, surging energy demand is reinforcing the role of natural gas and LNG as the backbone of the global energy system, panellists at LNG2026 said
18 February 2026
Norwegian energy company has dropped a major hydrogen project and paused its CCS expansion plans as demand fails to materialise
4 February 2026
Europe’s largest electrolyser manufacturers are losing patience with policymakers as sluggish growth in the green hydrogen sector undermines their decision to expand production capacity
2 February 2026
As a fertiliser feedstock, it is indispensable, but ammonia’s potential as a carbon-free energy carrier is also making it central to global decarbonisation strategies
