A partnership created in the Midlands is poised to carry out what it says is the first mainline testing of a hydrogen-fuelled train in the 海角视频 after securing new funding.
The so-called HydroFLEX Project aims is to demonstrate how hydrogen could be deployed across the 海角视频 rail network to offer a cleaner alternative to the current stock of diesel trains.
It is being run by the University of Birmingham's Centre for Railway Research and Education and Derby-based railway rolling stock company Porterbrook.
A full-scale prototype of the HydroFLEX train will be launched at the Rail Live exhibition taking place this week in Warwickshire.
The project is one of more than 20 being funded by the Department for Transport's £7.8 million 'First of a Kind' competition.
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The competition is run by the Government's innovation agency Innovate 海角视频 and funded by the Department for Transport to support research, development and innovation in the rail industry.
It seeks ideas that can be adapted to transform rail travel with each of the winning schemes receiving between £250,000 and £350,000.
Alex Burrows, director of the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education, said: "The partnership between the University of Birmingham and Porterbrook has been a trailblazer for academia and industry accelerating ideas into practical application on the railway.
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"We look forward to the next phase of this project which will take this technology onto the 海角视频 railway."
Rail Minister Andrew Jones said: "The First of a Kind competition has consistently produced truly innovative projects developed for the benefit of passengers, helping to drive forward a greener, cleaner and more efficient rail network.
"This round has been the biggest yet and I am excited to see how our funding will bring these ambitious ideas to fruition."
The first round of First of a Kind was launched in 2017 and saw ten projects win a share of £3.5 million to develop ideas to improve passenger experience and demonstrate tomorrow's trains.
The second round focussed on schemes aimed at cutting the carbon footprint on the 海角视频's railways and enhancing stations for passengers, again with ten projects sharing £3.5 million.