I M Kelly R & A supports UK’s first hydrogen-powered train debut at COP26

I M Kelly R & A is one of almost 30 UK based businesses that have worked together to deliver Britain’s first hydrogen-powered train which will be showcased by Porterbrook, in partnership with Network Rail, at November’s UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow.

Porterbrook has invested £7 million in the HydroFLEX, which will demonstrate how green-hydrogen and innovative-engineering can accelerate delivery of environmental benefits to passengers and the communities the railway serves.

The build and delivery of HydroFLEX has been supported by the University of Birmingham and a range of businesses, many new to rail, which has successfully created the UK’s first hydrogen-rail supply chain.

I M Kelly R & A says it has been proud to work with Porterbrook as part of the supply chain team that has delivered HydroFLEX within less than a year.

As part of the project, I M Kelly R & A worked closely with Porterbrook and the nominated design house, to transform the interiors of the existing vehicles into a modern clean interior with conference facilities.

This cross-industry collaboration will see the ground-breaking HydroFLEX make its first passenger journeys at COP26, to showcase the possibility of leading British green technology on the world stage.

The HydroFLEX train at COP26 includes an ‘on-board boardroom’, giving invited special guests the chance to use the train to support the globally significant discussions that will take place in and around the COP.

I M Kelly R & A was critical in refurbishing the passenger seats to include modern styling, using lamination techniques transferred over from their expertise in the aerospace sector. The seat covers were manufactured from a sustainable leather alternative increasing recycled content, lowering carbon emissions, and reducing the use of the earth’s scarce resources. I M Kelly R & A also manufactured the two large board room tables to transform one of the carriages into a high spec conference area seating up to 18 VIP guests.

Sofa seats were manufactured for another area of the vehicle to allow for a comfortable and more relaxed meeting environment.

Keith Griffiths, Sales Director of I M Kelly R & A said: “We are extremely privileged to have worked with Porterbrook on this highly prestigious project that will make a real difference to the future of sustainable transport.”

Mary Grant, CEO of Porterbrook, said: “We are incredibly proud to work alongside some truly great British businesses, whose skills and expertise have helped us take HydroFLEX to COP26. This reflects a high level of collaboration across the private sector which in turn has been supported by our Network Rail and University of Birmingham partners. Seeing HydroFLEX in action in Glasgow will be a true milestone moment as we accelerate the rail industry’s journey towards Net Zero.”

Photo credit: I M Kelly R & A

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