Ontario looks at using hydrogen fuel cells to power electric GO trains

Ontario is studying the feasibility of using hydrogen fuel cells to power electric trains on the GO Transit rail network.

The Liberal government has been promising electrification of thesystem for years and Transportation Minister Steven Del Ducaannounced today that an environmental assessment has started.

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Del Duca says it is a critical step in beginning a procurementprocess to pick a vendor to convert the system from diesel to electric.

He says as part of this process, Ontario will be considering theclean electric technology of hydrogen fuel cells as an alternativeto overhead wires.

Ontario has earmarked $13.5 billion to implement GO Regional Express Rail and expand two-way, all-day service.

The government has said it aims to have core segments of the network electrified by 2024.