USA: Cummins received Tier 4 certification for its QSK95 diesel engine from the Environmental Protection Agency on March 31, ‘making it the first single prime power engine’ certified by EPA as meeting the Tier 4 emissions standards for use on locomotives.
According to Cummins, the 3 281 kW QSK95 has the highest output of any 16-cylinder high-speed diesel engine. It combines the supplier's latest-generation modular common rail fuel system with quad-turbocharging, offering a high level of responsiveness and reduced noise in a smaller footprint than the medium-speed diesel engines traditionally used to power locomotives. Integrated selective catalytic reduction after-treatment is used to meet the Tier 4 exhaust emissions requirements.
Cummins has already started delivery of QSK95 engines to power the 200 km/h Charger diesel-electric passenger locomotives being manufactured by Siemens in Sacramento. Siemens is building 66 locomotives for the states of Illinois, California, Michigan, Missouri, Washington and Maryland, and an initial 10 for All Aboard Florida’s Brightline inter-city service.
'We are pleased to have reached this milestone', said Cummins Vice-President Jim Trueblood. 'Cummins is committed to bringing clean, efficient and durable engines to every market we serve. The QSK95 delivers on that commitment for our customers in the rail industry.'
Other Cummins diesel engines which have been Tier 4 certified for rail applications include the QSB6.7 (104 – 224 kW), QSX15 (447 kW), QSK19-R (567 kW) and QSK60 (1 723 or 2 013 kW).
