We’re having the same discussion here in Austria. There is a train line in the Alps where the NIMBYs have stopped electrification because it’s so ugly and now they’re trying to force a hydrogen train despite even the train company saying they’d rather go with batteries if they can’t electrify. Fits perfectly with our conservative government trying to make hydrogen cars happen, because they believe that will keep the local car manufacturers afloat.
but why? Why not just put up overhead wires or at least use battery electric locomotives?
I seriously hope, that this is just a stopgap solution so they don’t have to scrap/retrofit their existing fleet.
If not, oh boy.
We’re having the same discussion here in Austria. There is a train line in the Alps where the NIMBYs have stopped electrification because it’s so ugly and now they’re trying to force a hydrogen train despite even the train company saying they’d rather go with batteries if they can’t electrify. Fits perfectly with our conservative government trying to make hydrogen cars happen, because they believe that will keep the local car manufacturers afloat.
its a lot cheaper to replace a locomotive than it is to electrify thousands of kilometers of track