Many may not think of freight rail as an environmentally sound business, but it is actually the lesser of evils in terms of transportation related pollution. It is up to four times more fuel efficient versus trucking goods and in terms of carbon output freight puts out less.

To further tout their green railroad horn, Union Pacific, the major freight rail company in the western US, filters out diesel particulates by using a fancy device called a high temperature silicon carbide block to trap particulate matter in the exhaust. Tests have shown that having these diesel particulate filters (DPF's) have filtered up to 75% of particular matter.

Union Pacific, specifically, seems to have lofty and noteworthy environmental goals to reduce emissions and boost fuel efficiency. Little did I know until after reading their website that they have introduced hybrid diesel trains that further reduce nitrogen oxides and particulate matter by 80% and improve fuel efficiency by 16% over their non-hybrid trains.

Furthermore, another source of pollution from trains are from idling trains. According to the Union Pacific website, they say idling is necessary in certain conditions but they are working on solutions to reduce idling related pollution.

The railroad has developed a comprehensive plan to reduce the amount of time locomotive engines idle. Part of the plan involves using automatic stop-start equipment on newer locomotives to eliminate unnecessary idling. Older locomotives are being retrofitted with similar technology. Nearly two-thirds of Union Pacific's locomotive fleet is now equipped with this technology.

UP continues to train employees and reinforce shutdown requirements, emphasizing the impact they can have on fuel conservation and diesel emissions by reducing engine idling.

As our economy continues to hop along from the depths of a severe recession, freight traffic across the country is increasing. It is nice to know that some environmental stewardship is taking place in this important sector of commerce.

Thoughts, Comments, Questions...

   Subscribe in a reader

http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/atom.xml