Norfolk Southern Corporation is partnering with rail transportation manufacturer Alstom to create two hybrid engines that use sustainable locomotive propulsion, the companies said Tuesday.
The finished locomotives will be quieter, and deliver lower-emission operations with more pulling power. Officials estimated that when compared to traditional engines, the converted locomotives would cut carbon emissions by 90 percent while increasing pulling power by 30 percent.
“Rail is already the most sustainable mode of land transportation, and these hybrid conversions will deliver quieter, cleaner rail options,” Norfolk Southern Chief Sustainability Officer Josh Raglin said. “Thanks to the FRA’s CRISI grant and strong support from Alstom, Steuben County IDA, and NENY, we’re charting a path to deliver a better product for our customers and better experience for the communities where Norfolk Southern operates.”
The diesel hybrid locomotive prototype is the first-of-its kind and is made possible by a grant from the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program. The project will also receive support from the Steuben County, NY Industrial Development Agency and Binghamton University’s New Energy New York consortium.
“Decarbonizing the rail industry is a huge challenge, and this grant will support critical strategic collaboration and shared expertise needed to innovate new sustainable technologies,” Eric Rondeau, leader of Alstom’s innovation Center for sustainable mobility solutions. “Alstom is grateful to be a part of this innovative project to lower emissions and expand clean transit options.”
Norfolk Southern is the first company to apply Alstom’s hybrid technology to freight locomotives in North America. The technology is already used in European rail. The technology uses frames from two old locomotive and converts them to battery power with a diesel back-up to charge the batteries.
Officials said Alstom will lead the design and assembly of the hybrid locomotives in its Kanona, NY facility.