UK’s first hydrogen-powered shunting locomotive launched

The Severn Valley Railway and West Midlands-based Vanguard Sustainable Transport Solutions have unveiled HydroShunter, the UK’s first hydrogen-powered railway shunting locomotive. Developed by retrofitting a disused British Rail Class 08 diesel locomotive with a hydrogen fuel cell and battery hybrid system, the project aims to reduce emissions from rail operations that are difficult to electrify.

image: Severn Valley Railway

The conversion replaced the diesel engine with a fuel cell system and traction batteries, which power the locomotive’s existing electric motors. The hybrid setup delivers around 250 kW of traction power and can operate for up to 20 hours between refuelling, depending on usage. Developers say the retrofit approach offers a lower-cost path to decarbonising rail fleets by repurposing existing rolling stock rather than buying new locomotives.

HydroShunter is targeted at shunting operations in rail yards, depots, freight terminals, and industrial sites, where diesel engines remain common and electrification is limited. The launch event at Kidderminster Town station included demonstrations for industry representatives, highlighting the potential of hydrogen traction to reduce emissions, noise, and operating costs.

Dr Alexander Burrows, chief executive of Vanguard, said the company had received interest from operators seeking alternatives to diesel shunters. Gus Dunster, managing director of the Severn Valley Railway, said the project shows how heritage railway workshops can contribute to wider innovation in the rail sector.

The technology builds on earlier hydrogen research from the University of Birmingham, from which Vanguard was spun out, and developers plan to market HydroShunter to operators aiming to decarbonise yard and depot operations while extending the life of existing locomotives.