Peter T. Leach | Mar 09, 2010 4:39PM EST
The Montreal Port Authority plans to buy up to five “green” locomotives that will reduce the port’s emissions and conserve fuel.
The port authority signed an agreement with R.J. Corman Railpower to purchase one next-generation locomotive for $1.6 million, with an option to buy an additional four.
The locomotives are multiple-generator GenSet units with a total of 2,000 horsepower each and use GenSet technology developed in Canada by Railpower.
GenSet locomotives make it possible to reduce diesel consumption thanks to a power-regulating device that can start up one, two or all three generators, depending on the size of the task being performed.
In addition, when the locomotive remains stationary for more than five minutes, the onboard computer puts the locomotive into standby mode, shutting off all the generators so that no emissions are produced while the locomotive is stationary. This system helps reduce fuel consumption by 30 percent and cuts greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50 percent.
The agreement with R.J. Corman Railpower followed a call for proposals launched in 2009. The purchase was made with federal assistance under Transport Canada’s ecoFREIGHT program.
Contact Peter T. Leach at pleach@joc.com.
