New exhibition launches as the National Railway Museum goes green

The National Railway Museum has launched its second season of their Innovation Platform exhibition – this time focusing on decarbonisation.

The exhibition will highlight technology that could benefit our railways and make our railways greener.

The new season will feature a hydrogen fuel cell from the UK’s first hydrogen-powered train, a composite overhead railway line mast, a 3D-model of an emission-free hybrid battery shunting locomotive, lightweight sleepers made from recycled plastic, low-carbon 3D-printed concrete, photovoltaic solar film, and AI lineside monitoring software.

The seven objects will be on display together until June 2023.

Cassi Roberts, exhibition project manager at the National Railway Museum, said: “Decarbonisation is such an important word in our world right now and we are delighted that we can showcase seven objects at the National Railway Museum that could help our railways become greener and more sustainable.

“Visitors will have the chance to learn a little more about how these objects work and the benefits they bring in comparison to alternative materials currently being used in the rail industry that may be higher in carbon or more energy intensive.”

As part of its ongoing commitment to decarbonising its own operations, the Science Museum Group has pledged to achieve net zero by 2033.

So far, The Group has eliminated single-use plastic bottles from its museum shops and cafes in favour of greater recycled product ranges, planted 45,000 native trees across its sites, and introduced hydrogen and electric vehicles at its National Collections Centre in Wiltshire.

Find out more about Innovation Platform here.