Commercial, Energy Procurement, GHG Emissions  -  January 18, 2024

Genesee & Wyoming Inc. Upgrades Fleet, Tests Alternative Fuels

Genesee & Wyoming Inc., which owns or leases more than 100 freight railroads, continued to upgrade its North American locomotive fleet to reduce fuel consumption and minimize emissions.

The company also began pilot testing alternative fuels in the U.S. and U.K.

Genesee & Wyoming was the first freight-rail provider to use hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) in place of diesel to complete a journey from Southampton, UK to Crewe, UK. Using HVO instead of diesel provides a 92% reduction in carbon emissions.

The company added 99 additional in-service fuel-efficient locomotives. By 2024, Genesee & Wyoming expects to purchase an additional 193 fuel-efficient locomotives and retire 273 older models.

Details were reported in its latest Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, summarizing the company’s initiatives for full year 2022.

The company also developed a GHG emissions inventory to help track progress toward achieving its science-based emissions reduction target.

“We’re proud of the progress we have made toward fulfilling our ESG goals,” said Michael Miller, CEO for G&W North America, in a statement. “Creating a more sustainable future for ourselves, our customers and our communities is rooted in several of G&W’s Core Values and, moving forward, will be paramount to achieving our Core Purpose.”