The nation’s first battery-electric train went into revenue service on Friday, OmniTRAX announced.
OmniTRAX said it’s Ohio rail affiliate, Newburgh & South Shore Railroad (NSR) had placed the first battery-electric locomotive into service, a major first step in sustainable freight rail operations.
“This is a transformative moment for the rail industry,” Kayden Howard, OmniTRAX Senior Vice President of Health, Safety, and Environmental Programs, said. “For the first time, a battery-electric locomotive is moving freight in regular, revenue-generating service. We are proving that sustainable rail operations are not just a concept for the future – they are happening right now. This milestone will help accelerate the adoption of zero-emission technologies across the industry.”
Operating at 1,700 gross horsepower, the APMS Traction G9 locomotive is designed to significantly reduce fuel consumption and emissions while maintaining efficiency and reliability. The NSR locomotive 1234 was dedicated to the memory of Steve Ward, and engineer who oversaw track safety and maintenance for 27 years with OmniTRAX util his passing in 2021.
“This deployment reinforces our commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility,” Sergio Sabatini, president and COO of OmniTRAX, said. “We are proud to lead the way in bringing cutting-edge, sustainable solutions to freight rail, reducing emissions, and delivering real-world benefits to the communities we serve.”
The project was funding using a grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s Diesel Mitigation Trust Fund supporting initiatives to improve air quality by reducing diesel emissions. OmniTRAX said it also collaborated with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration on the project.
“We are grateful for the support from Governor DeWine and the Ohio EPA,” added Sabatini. “Their investment in cleaner transportation solutions has been instrumental in making this project a reality.”