Greener, 'cleaner' locomotive for U.S. railroads introduced by GE Transportation

Tuesday, December 24, 2002

By Charles Sheehan, Associated Press

PITTSBURGH -- American railroads will test drive a new generation of diesel-electric locomotives next year that emit 50 percent less smoke and 30 percent less smog-producing nitrogen oxide.

GE Transportation Systems rolled out its Evolution Series locomotive Monday in Erie, Penn.

The machines will be the "cleanest diesel-powered locomotive ever made," said Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christie Whitman.

The introduction of the 4,400-horsepower locomotive comes two years before tougher EPA emission standards are scheduled to take effect. Each year, locomotives emit an estimated 5 percent of all the nation's nitrogen oxide, a gas that contributes to ground-level ozone that can lead to respiratory problems.

Erie-based GE Transportation has spent six years on research and development and invested US$200 million in the new locomotive, company officials said.

Besides meeting air quality standards, the new engines will have about 3 percent better fuel efficiency than current locomotives, the company said.

GE Transportation will put 40 locomotives into use in 2003 for comparison use alongside standard locomotives. GE has not taken any orders yet and is still negotiating with railroads on who will get the test engines.

"We are aware of what GE is doing with the new design, and we are certainly interested in following its development and possibly testing the engine," said CSX Transportation Inc. spokesman Dan Murphy.

Evolution locomotives are expected to cost 10 percent to 15 percent more than current locomotives, which can cost up to about US$2.5 million.

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