At the direction of Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has initiated a review of the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA). This review will help determine whether roughly $4 billion in taxpayer money should remain committed to the proposed project to build high-speed rail in... Read more →

Cummins has acquired assets of First Mode, a developer of retrofit hybrid solutions for mining and rail operations. The acquisition includes hybrid mining and rail product lines, and the full IP portfolio which includes hydrogen and battery powertrain solutions. This technology represents the first commercially available retrofit hybrid system for... Read more →

Siemens Mobility announced that the first Mireo Plus H hydrogen trains have received authorization for passenger operation and are ready to inaugurate passenger service. Their approval marks another significant milestone for emission-free mobility in the Berlin-Brandenburg and Bavarian regions, where hydrogen-powered trains will be used for the first time. Niederbarnimer... Read more →

Ballard Power Systems announced the signing of a new Long Term Supply Agreement (LTSA) with Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), including the initial supply of 98 fuel cell engines for use in the North American freight rail market. Each engine has a nameplate of 200 kW, totaling approximately 20 megawatts... Read more →

Canadian Pacific Kansas City and ATCO EnPower, a division of Canadian Utilities Limited, have completed construction of hydrogen production and refueling facilities in Calgary and in Edmonton; the facilities are fully operational. As part of its Hydrogen Locomotive Program, CPKC is retrofitting a number of diesel locomotives with hydrogen fuel... Read more →

The US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT’s) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently announced more than $2.4 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for 122 rail improvement projects in 41 states and Washington, DC. This includes three projects in California, Colorado, and Pennsylvania to support deployment of hydrogen-related transportation technologies and applications.... Read more →

Vale and Petrobras signed a Strategic Alliance Agreement to supply products with a focus on competitiveness and advancing the decarbonization agenda. This agreement, which reflects the natural evolution of the protocol of intentions signed by the companies in September 2023, establishes conditions for testing and potentially marketing three strategic products:... Read more →

OptiFuel Systems announced a new line of Total-Zero Diesel Hybrid and Total-Zero Diesel-RNG Dual Fuel Hybrid Series Locomotives. Production and delivery are expected in 2026 and either model can be retrofitted to any existing switcher or line haul platform. Engineered to deliver best-in-class continuous and peak power, fuel efficiency, and... Read more →

Saft, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies, is supplying its lithium titanate oxide (LTO) traction batteries to Siemens Mobility to power seven next generation Mireo Plus H hydrogen trains operating in Germany. The lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries form a hybrid power system with fuel cells to provide a smart alternative to diesel multiple... Read more →

Alstom and SSAB entered a partnership for the supply of steel made with close to zero fossil carbon emissions. The first delivery of SSAB Zero will take place this year and be used in Alstom’s first Traxx Shunter locomotives, a new platform designed for shunting and trackwork operations. SSAB Zero... Read more →

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin presented a model of the latest domestic train “White Gyrfalcon” for the high-speed rail (HSR) line Moscow — Saint Petersburg, a project initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin, at the “Manezh Station: Moscow Transport 2030” exhibition. The train will reach speeds of up to 400 km/h... Read more →

Leclanché SA has supplied its INT-53 ENERGY battery packs for a new hybrid track repair locomotive which has recently been deployed in the Madrid Metro system. This marks the first time lithium-ion battery technology has been integrated into the metro system’s infrastructure. This further demonstrates Leclanché’s continued growth outside the... Read more →

In a study commissioned by the German Center for Rail Transport Research (DZSF), researchers from the Institute of Thermodynamics and Sustainable Propulsion Systems at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) have shown that non-exhaust emissions from rail transport also have a relevant influence on air quality and soil pollution. This... Read more →

California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) Governing Board recently adopted Rule 2306, otherwise known as the Freight Rail Yards Indirect Source Rule (ISR), which requires rail yard operators to take actions to meet specific emission reductions targets. The rule is expected to reduce NOx emissions associated... Read more →

Wabtec Corporation announced an order for Evolution Series ES43ACmi locomotives from SimFer, a joint venture among the Government of the Republic of Guinea, Rio Tinto, and Chalco Iron Ore Holdings (CIOH). The order, valued at $277 million, will provide a locomotive fleet to service the rail operations for the Simandou... Read more →

CRRC recently unveiled a series of seven new energy locomotives in Beijing, zlong with a report on the carbon footprint of new energy locomotives. The power of these serialized new energy locomotives range from 1000 kW to 2000 kW, which can cover all scenarios of user operation conditions, CRRC said.... Read more →

Lhyfe has built and will operate a green hydrogen production plant for Deutsche Bahn (DB) in Tübingen. The electrolysis plant in the innovation hub of DB Energie, a Group subsidiary, has an annual production capacity of up to 30 tons (installed electrolysis capacity of 1 MW). The green electricity comes... Read more →

Moscow has been investing heavily in replacing outdated trains with modern models. Since 2011, the share of updated rolling stock in the entire Central Transport Hub has increased almost 15-fold, from 5% to 71%. The average age of the rolling stock has decreased by a factor of 3, from 24... Read more →

CSX unveiled its first hydrogen-powered locomotive, marking a significant milestone in sustainable freight transportation. This achievement is the result of a successful partnership between CSX and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC). The hydrogen locomotive was converted from an existing diesel locomotive using a hydrogen conversion kit developed by CPKC. The... Read more →

Northrop Grumman Corporation has been selected by DARPA to develop further the concept of building a moon-based railroad network as part of the broader 10-year Lunar Architecture (LunA-10) Capability Study. The envisioned lunar railroad network could transport humans, supplies and resources for commercial ventures across the lunar surface, contributing to... Read more →

The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced $15 million for 12 projects across 11 states to advance next-generation, high-energy storage solutions to help accelerate the electrification of the aviation, railroad, and maritime transportation sectors. Funded through the Pioneering Railroad, Oceanic and Plane ELectrification with 1K energy storage systems (PROPEL-1K) program... Read more →

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) rail recently awarded Ballard an additional order of 12 fuel cell engines, delivered in 2024. The 200kW FCwave engines will support the expansion of CPKC’s new fleet of hydrogen-powered locomotives planned for regular switching and local freight service applications in Alberta, Canada. To date, Ballard... Read more →

Wabtec’s Trip Optimizer surpassed a major milestone as railroads used the energy-management software to efficiently operate their trains for more than 1 billion auto miles, the equivalent of more than 40,000 trips around the Earth. The 12,000 locomotives worldwide using the Trip Optimizer system accounted for significant reductions in fuel... Read more →

OptiFuel Systems will begin testing a prototype 5600 hp Total-Zero Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) Line Haul Locomotive and 2500 hp Total-Zero Powered Tender with 7,500 DGE (diesel gallon equivalent) capacity in January 2025. (Earlier post.) The RNG-powered line haul locomotive produces 5100 hp of continuous power from Cummins RNG engines... Read more →

The United States and Canada have created a Rail Decarbonization Task Force to develop a common vision to reduce emissions from the rail sector. The partners say they will: establish a joint research agenda to test the safe integration of emerging technologies, including hydrogen-powered and battery-electric locomotives; coordinate strategies to... Read more →

Recognizing that the rail sector generates 2% of US transportation greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the Department of Energy (DOE) has released the Progression to Net-Zero Emission Propulsion Technologies for the Rail Sector request for information (RFI) to understand applicable decarbonization strategies (DE-FOA-0003186). The purpose of this RFI is to solicit... Read more →

Ballard Power Systems received an order for 2.4 MW of additional fuel cell systems from Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC). These twelve, 200 kW fuel cell engines are planned for delivery in 2023 and will support the development of CPKC’s additional hydrogen-powered locomotives planned for regular switching and local freight... Read more →

Westport Fuel Systems announced an agreement with a leading global provider of locomotives and related equipment for the freight and transit rail industries, to adapt its hydrogen HPDI fuel system (earlier post) for use with the locomotive original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) engine design. The two-year H2 HPDI proof of concept... Read more →

Wabtec and its launch customer, Roy Hill, a leading iron ore miner majority-owned by Australia’s Hancock Prospecting, have unveiled the FLXdrive battery locomotive, the first 100% battery-powered, heavy-haul locomotive for mainline service. FLXdrive battery locomotive. This locomotive has been painted pink (as are all locomotives produced for Roy Hill) in... Read more →

United States Steel Corporation has converted two of its diesel switcher locomotives at the Mon Valley Works’ Edgar Thomson and Clairton Plants to battery-operated locomotives. The locomotives are built by Innovative Rail Technologies (IRT), a provider of customized lithium-ion propulsion solutions to the locomotive rail market. US Steel invested more... Read more →

Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR), in partnership with Alstom, a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, is operating and demonstrating the hydrogen-powered Coradia iLint train (earlier post) in Riyadh in October. This demonstration marks the first introduction of a hydrogen-powered train in the Middle East and Africa. The collaboration between... Read more →

In 2022, motorized vehicles were the top commodity shipped by rail in terms of value at $125.6 billion—nearly three times higher than the nearest category—according to data gathered by the Department of Transportation and presented by the US Department of Energy (DOE). Value of Commodities Moved By Rail, 2022 Data... Read more →

The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to $30 million in funding (DE-FOA-0003162) to develop next-generation, high-energy storage solutions to help accelerate the electrification of the aviation, railroad, and maritime transportation sectors. Transportation is responsible for approximately 29% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually in the United States.... Read more →

Ballard Power Systems received an order for additional fuel cell engines from Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC). These eighteen, 200 kW fuel cell engines (3.6 MW total) are planned for delivery in 2023 and will support the expansion of CPKC’s Hydrogen Locomotive Program. Over the past two years, Ballard has... Read more →

Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) has awarded Stadler a framework agreement for up to 120 battery-powered trains. The FLIRT Akku vehicles are designed to replace the current diesel fleet and will enable sustainable operation on lines that are only partially electrified. The signing of the framework agreement and the initial order... Read more →

Brazil-based metals and mining multinational Vale announced a partnership with Wabtec Corporation to advance the decarbonization of Vale’s rail operations. The deal includes an order for three of Wabtec’s FLXdrive battery locomotives and a collaboration to test ammonia as a potential clean, alternative fuel to replace diesel. The three 100%... Read more →

California will invest more than $1.5 billion—including approximately $450 million for zero-emission infrastructure, locomotives, vessels and vehicles—in port infrastructure upgrades. Awards of $1.2 billion will fund 15 projects creating an estimated 20,000 jobs and increase the capacity to move goods throughout the state’s global trade gateways while lessening environmental impacts... Read more →

Medha Group, a supplier of vehicle traction systems and related electronics based in Hyderabad, India, and Leclanché SA, a provider of energy storage solutions, have agreed to market their technologies jointly in the railroad and commercial truck markets. The partnership agreement allows for Leclanché to provide its Li-ion battery pack... Read more →

PESA, the largest Polish producer of rolling stock, has developed a shunting locomotive with a hydrogen drive, based on the modernization of its SM42 unit. The experience gained during the implementation of this project will be the base for the construction of a passenger vehicle with hydrogen drive, the company... Read more →

Coal trains and terminal operations add a significant amount of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution to urban areas—more so than other freight or passenger trains—according to a study conducted in Richmond, California, by the University of California, Davis. The open-access paper, published in the journal Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health,... Read more →

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has adopted the In-Use Locomotive Regulation—a new rule aimed at reducing emissions from all switch, passenger, industrial and freight line haul locomotives when they operate within the state. Under the In-Use Locomotive Regulation, operators will now be required to pay into a spending account,... Read more →

Siemens Mobility recently received an order for 1,200 locomotives of 9,000 horsepower (HP) from Indian Railways, marking the single largest locomotive order in the history of Siemens Mobility and single largest order in the history of Siemens India. Siemens Mobility will design, manufacture, commission and test the locomotives. Deliveries are... Read more →

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has been awarded a two-year, $650,000-contract from the US Department of Transportation to study the risks posed by gases dissolved in hazardous liquids during transport. The federal government has well-defined quantitative criteria and regulations for distinguishing hazardous liquids and gases as well as how and in... Read more →

Alstom has demonstrated the highest grade of automation on a shunting locomotive near Breda, the Netherlands, in partnership with Dutch infrastructure manager ProRail and Belgian rail freight operator Lineas. This grade of automation (GoA4) means fully automated starting, driving, stopping, and the handling of unanticipated obstacles or events without the... Read more →

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responding to petitions from the California Air Resources Board, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, and the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association to address harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions from locomotives. EPA adopted its first regulation... Read more →

Researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) will work with Wabtec, a leading manufacturer of freight locomotives, to develop the hardware and control strategies for a single-cylinder, dual-fuel engine to demonstrate the viability of using alternative fuels for locomotives. The research focuses on zero-carbon hydrogen... Read more →

BNSF Railway plans to invest more than $1.5 billion to construct a master-planned rail facility in Southern California—the first being developed by a Class 1 railroad. The Barstow International Gateway will be an approximately 4,500-acre new integrated rail facility on the west side of Barstow, consisting of a rail yard,... Read more →

Stadler Rail AG, a leading manufacturer of rolling stock, has ordered six 100 kW FCmove-HD+ fuel cell engines from Ballard Power Systems to power the first hydrogen train in the United States. The contract to provide the hydrogen-powered FLIRT H2 train was awarded to Stadler by San Bernardino County Transportation... Read more →

Rolls-Royce is releasing mtu rail engines for use with sustainable fuels. With synthetic diesel fuels of the EN15940 standard, CO2 emissions can be reduced by up to 100% compared to fossil diesel. Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO or renewable diesel), which is already commercially available today, reduces CO2 emissions by up... Read more →

Ballard Power Systems announced an order for 14 x 200 kW fuel cell modules from Siemens Mobility GmbH, a leading supplier in the development of alternative drives, to power a fleet of seven Mireo Plus H passenger trains. Delivery of the 14 fuel cell modules is expected to start in... Read more →