Lower emission freight engine used by CSX
Rail transport company CSX has begun using some low emission freight engines in its rail yards lately. These cleaner locomotives use three 700 horsepower engines that can be put to sleep by the onboard computer, depending on its power needs. This, along with other efficiency measures, apparently decreases the freight engine’s particulate matter emissions by 80%. However, since these engines are less powerful than the standard models, they are limited to use in switch yards.
It is no secret that rail transportation is more efficient than road transport. As the Association of American Railroads pro-rail TV commercials note, trains can move a ton of freight an average of 436 miles per gallon of fuel. CSX touts that it has improved fuel efficiency in its standard locomotives by 80% since 1980. I’m sure the truck industry cannot say the same thing.
Nontheless, the railroads are not model citizens either. As the EPA notes:
Locomotive engines are significant contributors to air pollution in many of our nation’s cities and ports. Although locomotive engines being produced today must meet relatively modest emission requirements set in 1997, they continue to emit large amounts of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter (PM), both of which contribute to serious public health problems.
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