Commercial, Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions  -  October 1, 2018

Amtrak premieres low-emission trains in L.A.

The Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) introduced new, cleaner locomotives to the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service on October 1 at Los Angeles Union Station. A total of 14 new Charger locomotives, manufactured by Siemens, will begin operating starting this fall with 24 daily trains providing service along the Southern California coast.

A statement from Amtrak noted "The Charger is the first passenger locomotive to receive the stringent Tier IV emissions certification from the Environmental Protection Agency, making the Charger one of the cleanest diesel-electric passenger locomotives currently in operation. California is leading the charge and is at the forefront of low-emission rail vehicles."

"The Charger locomotives are almost 90 percent cleaner than the locomotives they will be replacing, and their 4,400 horsepower engines are more powerful and reliable too," said Bryan MacDonald, chairman of the LOSSAN Agency, which oversees the Pacific Surfliner service. "These locomotives will allow us to expand Pacific Surfliner service to meet growing ridership demand while also significantly reducing emissions in the communities we serve."

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