Balfour Beatty Rail Deploys Hydrogen-Based Engine Cleaning Across Tamper Fleet

Balfour Beatty Rail is introducing a new engine-cleaning technology across its tamper fleet as part of efforts to cut emissions and boost engine performance.

The company has chosen to deploy Engine Carbon Clean (ECC), a system developed by Advanced Hydrogen Technologies, after a successful trial. The technology uses hydrogen generated on demand to clear carbon deposits from internal combustion engines. By feeding controlled amounts of hydrogen into the air intake, the system allows engines to operate more efficiently, improving fuel use, extending component life and lowering emissions such as CO₂, CO, NOx and N₂O.

During testing — which replicated a full year’s usage in line with normal maintenance intervals — the system delivered a 15.79% reduction in emissions. Following these results, Balfour Beatty will now implement ECC across its full tamper fleet.

George Chaplin, investment and innovation manager at Balfour Beatty, said the technology “offers a straightforward, non-intrusive upgrade that fits directly into our existing service regime”. He noted that extending engine life, reducing fuel consumption and cutting maintenance requirements provides both environmental and financial benefits while avoiding unnecessary downtime.

ECC has already demonstrated strong results in road vehicles, with fuel and CO₂ reductions of up to 30%. Working alongside rail specialists K2C Rail and 1stinrail, part of the RSK Group, the system has been adapted to meet rail industry standards and support organisations in meeting their ESG obligations under International Financial Reporting Standards.