British Rail Class 799


The British Rail Class 799 is a one-off tri-mode multiple unit prototype built using the bodyshell of a Class 319 electric multiple unit. The existing 25 kV AC and 750 V DC equipment has been retained with a hydrogen fuel cell added.

History

In September 2018, Porterbrook announced it would develop a hydrogen fuel cell demonstrator in partnership with the University of Birmingham's Centre for Railway Research & Education. In December 2018, Porterbrook procured an FCveloCity fuel cell unit from Ballard Power Systems.
The unit was converted from Class 319 EMU 319001 that had last been used by Govia Thameslink Railway. It was unveiled on 20 June 2019.
In June 2019, it was announced that approval for mainline testing of the unit had been granted after a period of demonstration at Rail Live 2019.