Industry News

BNSF Unveils Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Switcher

CSX Commits to Lower Carbon Dioxide Emissions

June 30, 2009 | 01:25 p.m. CDT

CSX Transportation (CSX) is setting a firm goal to reduce carbon dioxde (CO2) emissions by 2011. The railroad announced June 29 a plan to cut CO2 emissions associated with train operations by 8 percent per revenue ton mile, reports Progressive Railroading.

The commitment is part of the railroad's participation in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Climate Leaders program, which encourages businesses to voluntarily inventory and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. CSX also plans to use building space more efficiently, improve HVAC systems, and install energy-efficient lighting and automatic computer-shutdown software.

Overall, CSX expects to reduce C02 emissions by 2.4 million tons, or the equivalent of taking 441,000 cars off the highway or burning 5,598,000 fewer barrels of oil, each year. By year's end, CSX expects to upgrade an additional 1,200 locomotives to further reduce emissions and cut fuel consumption by nearly 10 million gallons.

Meanwhile, BNSF Railway Co. and Vehicle Projects Inc. unveiled an operational hydrogen fuel-cell switcher June 29 at BNSF's Topeka System Maintenance Terminal. The locomotive soon will head to the Transportation Technology Center Inc. in Pueblo, Colo., for additional testing. In late summer or early fall, the switcher will enter service in the Los Angeles Basin, according to BNSF.

The demonstration of the technology – which is designed for potential niche application in areas with air quality concerns – is a milestone in BNSF's testing of fuel-cell technology in a railroad application, said BNSF Vice President of Mechanical and Value Engineering Chris Roberts.