Freight rails target emissions
Alternative locomotive fuels being tested by industry, but systemic change is still far off
OMAHA, Neb. — The major freight railroads across North America continue to experiment with alternative locomotive fuels as a way to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
BNSF railroad said recently that it plans to test out a hydrogen-powered locomotive along its lines, joining Canadian Pacific in experimenting with that technology. Canadian National railroad recently announced plans to test out a battery-powered locomotive to haul freight across Pennsylvania, and Union Pacific has said it would like to try battery-powered locomotives in some of its railyards once they are more widely available.
Several other past tests at other railroads have looked at natural gas-powered locomotives and battery-powered options. Using some combination of these new fuel options will be key to helping the railroads achieve their goals to significantly cut their emissions in the coming years.
Both of the major locomotive manufacturers, Wabtec and Caterpillar’s Progress Rail unit, are working on developing locomotives that use other fuels.
But the railroads all caution that these are only pilot tests at this stage, and the new technology won’t be ready to start replacing the diesel workhorses that have been pulling freight across the continent since World War II for at least several more years.
“This technology could one day be a lower-carbon solution for line-haul service, as it has the potential to reduce carbon emissions and remain cost competitive,” said John Lovenburg, BNSF’S vice president of environmental.
Wabtec’s Vice President of Engineering Alan Hamilton said his company is already selling a production version of its battery-powered locomotive to some railroads after it was tested out in California earlier this year. And Wabtec is working on a variety of other approaches to improve the efficiency of all its locomotives regardless of the fuel they use. But the major railroads will likely phase in the new technology gradually as they upgrade their locomotives over time.
“We really aren’t focused on just one technology,” Hamilton said. “We’re focused on a whole range of technologies and how they work in the customer’s network.”
BNSF didn’t say how quickly it expects the hydrogen-powered locomotive from Progress Rail it plans to use will be ready to try out while a Canadian Pacific spokesman said it plans to begin using three hydrogen-powered locomotives around the province of Alberta sometime next year. CP received a $15 million grant earlier this year to double the amount it planned to invest in the program.
Before the railroads could make wholesale changes in their locomotive fleets, they would have to invest millions in new fueling stations and other infrastructure. And any changes would likely have to be somewhat standardized across the industry because the major freight railroads regularly pass locomotives back and forth to keep trains moving efficiently.
Another thing that will likely slow the transition to new fuels is that railroads typically use locomotives for decades to get the most out of their investment in them.
The Association of American Railroads trade group points out that railroads are already significantly more efficient than trucks at delivering freight.