Thursday, August 16, 2012

UP to test lower-emission locomotives in California

The Union Pacific Railroad is investing $20 million to test technology that would reduce diesel emissions on 25 freight locomotives as the Environmental Protection Agency’s new lower emissions standards that are to be in effect by 2015 loom ever closer.

The largest U.S. railroad said the 25 locomotives have an operating range of approximately 200 miles are will all best tested throughout California.

“The testing and analysis of these locomotives is part of an ongoing initiative at Union Pacific to develop and use technology in pursuit of emissions reductions,” said Mike Iden, Union Pacific general director, car and locomotive engineering in a statement.

The UP said preliminary analysis of the prototype locomotive technology would advance the railroad towards the Tier 4 standard with 45 percent reduction in oxides of nitrogen emissions, compared to the current Tier 2 standard, and an 85 percent reduction in particulate matter emissions.

The California Air Resources Board and UP will both analyze the emissions reductions results of the locomotive experiments over the next 18 months, with testing on all 25 locomotives to be conducted through 2014.

The locomotive emissions test is funded in part by the Proposition 1B transportation bond of 2006.

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