The Anonymous Widower

Direct London Trains ‘Could Start In 2026’

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.

This is the sub-heading.

A new train company is hoping its proposals for new daily services from Shropshire to London Euston could begin towards the end of 2026.

Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway (WSMR), which is led by international rail firm Alstom, submitted a new bid at the end of last year to provide four daily trains.

These two paragraphs add detail to the story.

The county has not had a direct train link to the capital since Avanti West Coast stopped its single daily service in 2024 because of low passenger numbers.

The move has been welcomed by regular commuter Charlotte Foster, who lives on the Welsh border. She said a direct service would save her the stress of missing a connection or catching a train elsewhere.

These are my thoughts on this proposal.

I wonder If Alstom Will Be Using This route To Trial Hydrogen-Powered Trains?

Consider.

• The route was a failure for Virgin Trains.
• Perhaps the curiosity value of hydrogen-trains will generate sufficient traffic.
• Hydrogen-electric trains will be very quiet. Those in Germany are hydrogen-electro-mechanical and very noisy.
• The trains will be based on the proven Aventra platform.
• I reported on Alstom’s hydrogen trains for the UK in Alstom Plans To Operate Its Own Passenger Train Service In The UK For The First Time.
• Perhaps Alstom feel that an extended test will convince passengers that the trains are a good idea.
• An extended test would give proper  costings for Great British Railways and prospective open access operators.

The map downloaded from the BBC article  shows the route.

Note.

1. There are eight intermediate stops.
2. Euston and Wolverhampton is 124.9 miles and fully electrified.
3. Wolverhampton and Wrexham General is 59.9 miles and is not electrified.
4. The section of the route without electrification at 120 miles return might need some new electrification for battery-electric trains, but from their experience in Germany, I suspect that Alstom, will know how to cover the route using hydrogen-hybrid trains, which would use the existing electrification between Euston and Wolverhampton.

This picture shows a visualisation of a possible Alston hydrogen train, which would probably be built in Derby on an Aventra platform.

Note.

1. It could be up to five-cars long.
2. I suspect Alstom could give the train a 125 mph cruising speed, so it could mix it with all the express trains between Euston and Wolverhampton.
3. The trains would have a very long range on hydrogen.
4. Hydrogen trains could certainly handle a round trip between Wolverhampton and Holyhead on a single fuelling.
5. Hydrogen fuelling is likely to be setup at Cemex at Wrexham and the Port of Holyhead.

I think it could be an ideal trial route for hydrogen trains.

But also it could bring growth to the towns and cities between Wolverhampton and Holyhead.

Would Alstom’s Hydrogen-Hybrid Trains Be Suitable For Other Routes?

Most Certainly!

In the first place, the route could be extended to Holyhead, which would surely bring growth to the towns and cities between Wolverhampton and Holyhead.

This would create a zero-carbon route between London and the Island of Ireland.

But around the UK, there would be other routes.

I can envisage these routes being run by hydrogen-hybrid trains.

• London Waterloo and Exeter –  Third-rail operation
• London Bridge and Uckfield – Third-rail operation
• London Bridge and Hoo – Third-rail operation
• East Coastway and Marshlink Lines – Third-rail operation
• Scotland – Replacement of Inter7City trains and filling in the gaps in electrification.

Note.

1. Some areas already have or have plans for hydrogen supply networks.
2. With the exception of supplying hydrogen, very little infrastructure would be needed.
3. Hydrogen trains should be fairly quiet.
4. Hydrogen trains don’t create much disruption, when they are installed.

Aventras have been fairly well received and can be between three and nine cars.

January 4, 2026 - Posted by AnonW | Hydrogen, Transport/Travel | Alstom, Alstom Hydrogen Aventra, Gobowen Station, Great British Railways, Hydrogen-Powered Trains, Open Access Operators, Shrewsbury Station, Wolverhampton Station, Wrexham Shropshire and Midlands Railway (WSMR)