Latest Developments In Alternative Fuels For Rail Locomotives

Prompted by regulatory changes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding emission standards for locomotives, several railroads and locomotive manufacturers have been working for several years to develop and test locomotives and associated tender cars which burn liquefied natural gas (LNG) and/or compressed natural gas (CNG). In response to these efforts, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the federal agency with statutory and regulatory authority over locomotives and tenders pursuant to 49 U.S.C. §§ 20701-20703 (formerly known as the Locomotive Inspection Act), developed a protocol in 2013 for railroads which desired the ability to test LNG and/or CNG locomotives and associated tenders. One U.S. Class I railroad began testing LNG locomotives and tenders in 2013, but has not yet adopted wide scale use of such equipment.