Posted 4th November 2008 | 7 Comments
New ‘green’ locos will slash fuel consumption
Model loco: The shape of freight traction to come.
DELIVERIES of a new fleet of American-built, environment-friendly locomotives for Freightliner are expected to start during the latter part of 2009.
A model showing the design concept of the new PowerHaul locomotive being developed for Freightliner was on show for the first time at the major InnoTrans exhibition in Berlin.
Freightliner Group’s order for 30 of the newly designed locomotives is the largest in its history.
Incorporating the newly-developed 16-cylinder Power-Haul engine, the locomotive is GE Transportation’s most technologically-advanced global design to date and is expected to cut fuel consumption by up to nine per cent of current fleet operating averages and reduce carbon emissions.
The new locomotive, which will be capable of 75mph running, is based on the company’s 2005 Evolution series, of which more than 2,800 units are currently in service worldwide.
Their powerful engines deliver five per cent greater fuel efficiency and a 40 per cent reduction in emissions. Each locomotive will consume around 300,000 less gallons of fuel than previous motive power during its working life.
Freightliner has to date made no decision on where the locos will be used but it has been suggested that they might haul heavier trains on the West and East Coast routes to make up for lack of capacity.
“The project is on track to deliver increased hauling capacity and a significant improvement in fuel economy, and we are extremely pleased with the development to date of these locomotives,” said Tim Shakerley, engineering director, Freightliner Group Ltd.
“The new locomotive will enable us to haul greater payloads and increase our fuel efficiencies, improving our carbon footprint and service offering to our customers.
“Packaging all of the new technology – including AC traction, dynamic brake and air-conditioned cabs – into a locomotive that is compliant to UK clearance gauge and axle weight has been a challenge, but the design team has been uncompromising in delivering these objectives with a delivery date towards the end of 2009.
“Freightliner is committed to increasing the amount of freight by rail, and is currently removing up to 70 lorries of the UK roads with each intermodal service we operate.
“The introduction of these locomotives will enable us to remove even more vehicles from the UK’s congested roads.”
The 30 GE Transportation locos will expand Freightliner’s existing fleet of more than 160 locomotives and 3,000 freight wagons.
Reader Comments:
Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.
paul, carlisle, uk
Cant agree more with the comments about running diesels under the wires. Whilst waiting to change trains at Preston recently withun the sapce of an hour only one pendolino and one Eddie Stobbart freight train was Electrically haulled. Every other train was diesel powered. This included Virgin trains running from Scotland to Birmingham - the whole way under the wires. Is there another country in the world with such a crazy traction policy? Everything we seem to do in this god foresaken country goes against convention and we are always proved wrong! - you only had to watch the England team aginst Germany yesterday to see that!
Paul Harley, Newport, UK
How about sticking a pantograph and transformer on it, so that it can save even more fuel when under OHLE? Add regen, and it can generate power and extend brake life when descending Shap etc.
alan wilson, warwickshire
The reasaon the railway companies do not buy british john g,is that they are far too expensive,and take too long for the locomotives to actually run on the network,take the class 60 loco,took nearly one year to finish testing on the locomotives,yet the class 66 order was place and in under a year the locomotives had been built,shipped accross the ocean and were running on the network.
If you were a freight company,would you order british,then wait about 18 months for the locos to be built etc,or buy from gm in usa,and have the locos running in under 6 months!
Brian Cawkwell, South Shields, Tyne and Wear
The main lines are electrified, but the power station , docks ,coal storage yards, container yards and all the other places are not electrified . This is the reason that there is so much diesel powered locos.fair enough if every piece of track was electrified I would understand Garry's point.
As for buying British, them days are long long gone, there is no company building locos any more in this country.i would love to be proved wrong though.
Shalford Signalman, Shalford, UK
John G: Our rail industry has shut down to the extent that we can no longer design or construct locomotives in the UK. Class 66's were bought in such bulk orders as they have a proved track record around the world. Admittedly this new locomotive does seem to be a new design and come with a new engine, but where are the viable alternatives from this great land that gave the world rail transportation?
Garry B: Freightliner would be very narrow minded if they did just keep the new locos only on the costal routes as this would limit there availability to used on other jobs that require a locomotive to travel way outside the OHLE 'commuter routes'.
Of course this makes a mockery of any green credentials but whilst planes, lorries and ships continue to plough on their polluting way, it's unlikely to make much of a difference. I mean, if we were all serious about green issues the government would ban private cars and we'd all have to cycle to work and work for local companies - just like it was back in the 'good old days'…
Garry Brookes, Preston, England
Surely, as the East and West Coast roues are both electrified, new electric locomotives should be used? The "green" credentials of diesl haulage are poor - electric locomotives can take their fuel from renewable sources! A bit of an own-goal for freightliner I feel, to push green credentials....
John g, tyneside
Why dont they buy British Engines are they cheaper to buy abroad? all new locos seem to be coming from abroad have the british Locomotive works stopped Making Locos or are they not good enough for Freightliner.