Interesting article on hydrogen powered trains in the UK….

Hydrogen trains: Are these the eco-friendly trains of the future?

Hydrogen-powered trains are said to be the greenest trains out there.   “Mini power stations on wheels”, is how a University of Birmingham researcher describes them, as they give off zero emissions and their only by-product is water.

And in Europe….

Are hydrogen trains the future of UK travel?

Trains powered by hydrogen could be a reality in the UK by the “early 2020s”, according to Transport Secretary Chris Grayling.
They’re seen as a cleaner – but pricier – alternative to diesel trains, as the exhaust emission is pure water.

The BBC’s Roger Harrabin reports from Germany, where hydrogen trains are already running.

But this is a scary headline…

Rogue slug blamed for Japanese railway chaos

A power cut that disrupted rail traffic on a Japanese island last month was caused by a slug, officials say.  More than 12,000 people’s journeys were affected when nearly 30 trains on Kyushu shuddered to a halt because of the slimy intruder’s actions.

Its electrocuted remains were found lodged inside equipment next to the tracks, Japan Railways says.  The incident in Japan has echoes of a shutdown caused by a weasel at Europe’s Large Hadron Collider in 2016.

Beat our leaves on the track anyday….

And reminds me of this post from a couple of years ago…