Canada Working Towards A Net Zero Emission Railway

Experts from the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) are working with teams from Transport Canada (TC) and the University of British Columbia (UBC) to evaluate the gaps associated with deploying hydrogen locomotives. Hydrogen Industry Leaders looks at how this will contribute to decarbonising Canada’s rail sector.

The project, which aligns with the Government of Canada’s Emission Reduction Plan, aims to identify, assess, and mitigate the potential risks of using hydrogen in rail operations.

It will also support the development of best practices, codes, and standards to support the industry adopt this new technology.

In Phase 1 of the project, the NRC and TC researchers will identify potential safety and operation hazards associated with hydrail.

Phase 2 will see NRC apply findings from Phase 1 on a full-scale hydrail locomotive prototype to assess the risks and the effectiveness of proposed mitigation solutions.

Aiming to help establish a framework for designing and operating full-cell locomotives that offer the same safety protection as their conventional equivalents, the project is expected to provide guidance to regulators and the rail industry about the best way to install hydrogen and battery equipment in a safe manner.