Aventra HMUs To Be Built

On 10 November 2021, Alstom and Eversholt Rail have signed a MoU aimed at delivering the UK’s first ever brand-new hydrogen train fleet. The two companies have agreed to work together, sharing technical and commercial information necessary for Alstom to design, build, commission and support a fleet of ten three-car hydrogen multiple units (HMUs).

These will be built by Alstom in Britain and will be based on the latest evolution of the Aventra platform (until early 2021 built by Bombardier Transportation). The intention is that final contracts for the fleet will be signed in early 2022.

Eversholt Rail and Alstom are committed to taking a leading role in supporting the UK and Scotland Government ambitions to decarbonise its rail sector by 2040, and the Scottish Government’s objective of doing so by 2035. Alstom and Eversholt Rail have previously worked together on a hydrogen rolling stock solution for the UK rail sector, through the proposed conversion of an existing EMU to hydrogen power - the Breeze project. Both companies now believe that there is a market for a fleet of new-built HMUs for use by operators across Britain.