The Ontario government is talking to Bombardier Transportation about funding the development of one of the world’s first hydrogen-powered trains.A train that uses a hydrogen fuel cell to combine hydrogen with oxygen to create the electricity needed to run its motor would essentially be a zero-emissions vehicle, producing only water vapour.

The trains might run on hydrogen produced by Ontario’s nuclear plants. Still, the technology remains unproven and much more expensive than conventional locomotives. However, private consortia and governments in the United States, Europe and elsewhere are looking into hydrogen trains, and a pilot project is on the rails in Japan.

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