12 December 2006
New CPR Locomotives are Higher Tech and More
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CP Rail's new locomotives are more environmentally
friendly.
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Revelstoke British Columbia - CPR's new General Electric
Evolution Series locomotive engines conform to all Canadian and US Environmental Protection standards, including California Air
Resources Board standards, which are among the strictest in the world. The specific standards that it must conform to is the
"Tier II" EPA standard, which was introduced for motor vehicles in 2004, which will be phased in by 2009.
These new locomotive engines will cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 40 percent, and fuel consumption will be reduced by three
percent. However, the transportation system, not including personal vehicles, produces a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions, and
the rail transportation industry produces less than four percent of that quarter.
"About 80 have been purchased and they're being slowly integrated," the CPR PR rep, Ed Greenberg, said. He added, "CPR
has the youngest locomotive fleet in Canada, and these engines are improving on that."
These engines have equivalent horsepower to the current locomotive engines, but use only 12 cylinders as opposed to 16.
This is also the first gas-turbine, combined-cycle system capable of 60 percent thermal efficiency, meaning
that the engine gets less hot during the running. This, in turn, increases the life of the engine.
"It's our commitment to make our engines environmentally safe," Greenburg said. He said, elaborating, "These engines
are very sophisticated and environmentally responsible. They're the most innovative diesel engine currently operating."
It's a great thing that the minds at GE headquarters are coming up with environmentally safe locomotive engines to replace the
currently operating ones. It shows that they're attempting to pave the way to a cleaner, better future for future generations, and are
taking their part of the responsibility to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as everyone should, even on a day-to-day
basis.
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