dec 5, 2025 - (UK) First hydrogen freight delivered by rail in the UK

Description:

Hydrogen has been transported by rail for the first time in Britain, as part of a demonstration project led by Network Rail in collaboration with Freightliner and GeoPura.

The operation took place on 3 December 2025 and involved the movement of containers between Doncaster and High Marnham, using the Tuxford Test Tracks in Nottinghamshire.

The project forms part of a broader initiative testing how hydrogen can be produced, transported and applied within a rail-specific setting. The train, operated by Freightliner, delivered the hydrogen to the site of HyMarnham Power, a rail-connected green hydrogen production facility established on the grounds of a former coal-fired power station.

Alongside the hydrogen freight run, the Tuxford event included further demonstrations of hydrogen-powered equipment, including a re-engineered shunting locomotive. The locomotive operated at the test site together with off-grid hydrogen-powered generators, lighting towers and support vehicles.

The trials were carried out in cooperation with partners from both the rail and energy sectors, including Freightliner, Vanguard Sustainable Transport Solutions, Rail Operations Group, Toyota UK, JCB, and Enspired Consulting. The purpose was to examine operational and logistical aspects of rail-based hydrogen movements and to consider future applications both within the railway and as part of a wider energy distribution network.

Hydrogen for the event was supplied from HyMarnham Power, operated by GeoPura and JG Pears. With rail currently not used for hydrogen distribution in the UK, the consortium views the project as a first step towards exploring rail’s potential role in supporting future hydrogen logistics.

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