The provincial government is pushing ahead with plans to explore the use of untested hydrogen train technology for a major expansion of GO Transit service.

Transportation Minister Kathryn McGarry announced Thursday that a study launched by Metrolinx last year has concluded it would be “technically feasible” to run trains powered by hydrogen fuel cells on GO lines as an alternative to traditional electrification, which uses overhead wires.

The province has contracted two European rail manufacturers, Alstom and Siemens, to create “concept designs” for a self-propelled hydrogen-powered coach.

McGarry also announced the government has issued a request for proposals for the design of a hydrogen-powered locomotive to pull GO coaches.

“The decisions we make today will determine what the next 50 years of GO Transit will be. We need to make sure that we have carefully considered all of our options before we make a decision that will impact the landscape and the environment of our province for generations,” said McGarry at a press conference at the MaRS Centre in downtown Toronto.

“Knowing that it should be possible to electrify GO Transit using trains powered by hydrogen fuel cells, we are now asking industry if they can deliver on this technology.”

Metrolinx, the provincial transit agency for the GTHA, is in the midst of a major $13.5-billion expansion called regional express rail (RER), under which parts of the GO network will be electrified to allow for more frequent and efficient service. The project is scheduled for completion by 2025.

Last June the province made the surprise announcement that it would explore hydrogen rail technology, or “hydrail,” as a possible alternative to traditional overhead electrification for the RER program.

Metrolinx considers the newer technology a form of electrification, because hydrogen fuel can be produced using only electricity and water. Depending on the source of the electricity, the process is effectively emissions-free.

Hydrogen trains would have many potential advantages over traditional electrification, including lower set-up costs and minimal impact on the local environment, McGarry said. The technology would also allow GO to run trains powered by green technology on parts of the network where overhead wiring isn’t possible.

According to a Metrolinx summary, the feasibility study determined that the cost of building and operating a hydrogen rail system would be “equivalent” to traditional electrification.

But it also found “implementation of (a hydrogen rail system) of this scale and complexity has never been undertaken, and presents a different set of risks.”

Hydrogen-powered commuter trains aren’t in regular service anywhere in the world. Last year, Alstom signed a contract to build 14 hydrogen trains for a transportation authority in Germany, but the vehicles, which are scheduled for delivery in 2021, are significantly smaller than GO’s heavy double-decker carriages.

It’s not clear if the technology could be adapted to Metrolinx’s needs and manufactured by 2025. The agency has estimated it could require 300 self-propelled coaches for the level of service required by RER, which McGarry described as the largest commuter rail project in the country.

Despite the unknowns, Phil Verster, Metrolinx’s CEO, told reporters he doesn’t believe the agency is going out on a limb by exploring hydrogen.

“I think we are in exactly the right place,” he said.

“We’re not saying this must be the solution . . . . So let’s be sure we understand exactly what risks we’ve got, what opportunities we’ve got, and then make the choice.”

Metrolinx plans to issue a request for proposals for RER at the end of 2018. The winning consortium will be responsible for designing, building, operating, and maintaining the rail network, and it will be up to the bidders to propose either traditional electrification or hydrogen trains.

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“We have left the door open with parallel processes . . . . We’ll continue to look at all technologies,” McGarry said.

A Metrolinx spokesperson said the entire hydrogen exercise is costing Metrolinx $7.4 million. Alstom and Siemens will receive $1.5 million each for the vehicle design work.

Ben Spurr can be reached at 416 869-4547, or bspurr@thestar.ca.

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