While I certainly appreciate that Metrolinx studied hydrogen as primarily a delay tactic so they can continue to make no decisions on anything, the puny $7 million was not a waste but rather a bargain.
If ML doesn't want hydrogen for RER then fine but that doesn't mean it is not {nor will not become} a viable option in the future. Obviously the number of hydrogen trains is going to grow exponentially over the next couple decades especially as our entire transportation, manufacturing, and agriculture sector transfer over to zero emissions and, except for cars, commuter rail, and short range delivery trucks, expecting batteries to be able to do it is truly laughable. This means not only will the technology grow immensely but so will the needed infrastructure including CN & CP.
It may not be any use to them now but in 20 years when they need to expand service to other areas which must be done with zero emitting vehicles but where the high costs of catenary cannot be justified, then hydrogen will seriously be considered. What ML has learned can also provide vital information to other commuter services in Ontario and especially Ottawa and London to say nothing of VIA rail. The days of diesel rail are quickly coming to an end and that means a switch to alternatives that don't require gobs of initial infrastructure spending.
Considering this is not even pennies on the dollar for ML, the amount of knowledge they have gained from a system that will be plying our rails nation wide in 30 years seems like it was money well spent.
