Railway biofuel news
News about the development and deployment of biofuel technology in the railway industry.
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NewsWabtec and Vale to test ethanol as a locomotive fuel
BRAZIL: Mining company Vale and locomotive supplier Wabtec have signed an agreement to test the use of ethanol as an alternative to diesel fuel on the Vitória a Minas Railway.
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NewsRegioJet orders battery-electric-diesel trains as the best option for partly-electrified routes
CZECH REPUBLIC: RegioJet has signed a KC9bn contract for Škoda Group to supply 18 two-car and 16 three-car battery-electric-diesel multiple-units for use on routes that are not yet electrified.
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NewsLineas seeks FAME with biofuel locomotive
BELGIUM: Lineas has unveiled a FAME locomotive, powered by fatty acid methyl ester biofuel produced from non-food raw materials such as used cooking oil. Lineas said this offers a readily available alternative to diesel, and has been used in marine engines but not yet in locomotives. ...
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NewsJapanese railway to test biofuel
JAPAN: West Japan Railway is to test the use of biofuels to power diesel multiple-units on the Sanin Main Line between Shimonoseki and Nagatoshi.
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NewsDB Regio switches fleets to biodiesel
GERMANY: DB Regio has begun fuelling 57 diesel multiple-units in Baden-Württemberg with biofuel, which it says produces around 90% less CO2 than diesel. The hydrotreated vegetable oil is made from biological residues and waste. It does not contain palm oil, or compete with food and animal ...
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NewsDB Cargo offers biofuel option to decarbonise ‘last mile’
GERMANY: DB Cargo is planning to run its main line diesel and shunting locomotives on HVO fuel, a carbon-neutral biofuel based on plant oils, for ‘last mile’ duties, including shunting, in freight terminals and ports or when delivering wagons to customers. DB Cargo says its diesel ...
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NewsCN and Progress Rail test renewable fuel blends
CANADA: Canadian National and Progress Rail are working with biofuel producer Renewable Energy Group to test renewable fuel blends, with the aim of gaining a better understanding of their long-term durability and operational impact, especially in cold weather, and to plan modifications which might be needed ...
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NewsNew leasing company targets non-electrified routes with SmartHybrid locos
EUROPE: Private equity infrastructure investor InfraVia Capital Partners has formed Nexrail Lease to supply low-emission locomotives for unelectrified routes. The new leasing company has placed a framework order for up to 50 Vossloh Locomotives DE18 Stage V SmartHybrid locos, and taken over 53 existing locos. CRRC ...
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NewsUnion Pacific ups biodiesel blend
USA: Progress Rail has approved the use of up to 20% biodiesel blend across its range of 645 and 710 series engines. This follows testing with high-horsepower locomotives to monitor fuel consumption and the impact on engine oil and fuel filters. Approval will enable Union Pacific ...
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NewsBiodiesel-electric units in order for lingonberry-coloured trains
SWEDEN: Leasing organisation AB Transitio and CAF have finalised a contract for the supply of 28 multiple-units, formed of 20 electric units and eight bimodes which will also be able to run on renewable biodiesel to meet local environmental targets on lines which are not currently ...
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Metro Report InternationalAbidjan to expand bus network and study cocoa biofuel
CÔTE D’IVOIRE: The Ministry of Transport, transport operator SOTRA and Scania have signed an agreement for the supply of 400 low-entry 13 m buses and 50 compressed gas fuelled 18 m articulated buses, which will have with bodies from Marcopolo. The deal includes depot upgrading and training ...
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NewsStadler launches Wink multiple-unit offering a range of traction options
STADLER: A recent order from Arriva marked the launch of Stadler’s latest multiple-unit family, which it has named Wink, meaning Wandelbarer Innovativer Nahverkehrs-Kurzzug (‘convertible, innovative short train for local transport’). The Wink platform is intended for less busy secondary routes, and Stadler believes it could find applications in western and ...
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NewsVegetable oil fuelled multiple-units ordered for future battery conversion
NETHERLANDS: Arriva has signed a €170m contract for Stadler to supply 18 Flirtino multiple units which will be able to use overhead electrification or hydrotreated vegetable oil fuel. They will also have onboard batteries to store regenerated braking energy. Produced from vegetable fats and oils, HVO is intended to be ...
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NewsBattery energy recovery and biodiesel in Arriva operating contract
NETHERLANDS: The provinces of Groningen and Friesland named incumbent Arriva as the winner of the next contract to operate their regional passenger rail services on July 11. The contract will run for 15 years from December 13 2020 and is worth €1·6bn. The contract covers fast and stopping services ...
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NewsBiofuel from station coffee waste
UK: Following a successful trial, infrastructure manager Network Rail and Bio-bean have signed an agreement for waste coffee grounds from London’s Euston, King’s Cross, Liverpool Street, Paddington, Victoria and Waterloo stations to be recycled into biofuel pellets which can be used for heating homes, offices and factories. Bio-bean’s coffee waste ...
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NewsAmtrak beef fat biofuel tests show no extra wear
USA: A one-year test using biofuel derived from beef-fat to power an Amtrak locomotive found no added engine wear or loss of reliability, and an improvement in exhaust emissions. The 20-year-old GE P32-8 locomotive’s 12-cylinder, 3 200 hp engine ran on a B20 blend of 20% beef fat biofuel and ...
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NewsLaHood backs biofuel research
USA: On December 1 Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced two more grants totalling $766 562 to continue research into the use of cleaner fuels and lubricants in the rail sector, as part of a programme aimed at reducing national dependence on fossil fuels. 'We are committed to reducing our carbon ...
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NewsNS locomotives to run on biodiesel
USA: Norfolk Southern Railway and Electro-Motive Diesel are to test 10% to 20% blend biodiesel fuel using eight SD70M-2 locomotives and two MP15 shunters in regular traffic. The tests will last nine to 11 months, enabling the evaluation of emissions, fuel consumption, performance and durability over a wide range ...
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NewsGE locomotives in cold-climate biofuel tests
CANADA: A five-month trial of biodiesel is being undertaken in what Canadian Pacific says is its first use with locomotives operating in the cold Canadian climate. Four GE Transportation AC4400 locomotives in dedicated service between Calgary and Edmonton are using a 5% biodiesel blend from November until the end ...
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NewsCarajás Railway to use biofuel
BRAZIL: Mining group Vale has announced plans to become self-sufficient in the production of B20 biodiesel for its locomotives, which since 2007 have run on a B20 mix of 20% palm oil and 80% ordinary diesel. On June 24 Vale announced details of a consortium with Biopalma da ...