WASHINGTON — Amtrak on Tuesday announced it has released a Request for Information seeking information on zero-emission technologies for the company’s rail fleet as a step toward eliminating its current diesel locomotive fleet.
“Finding the cleanest technologies to carry customers across our vast network will be transformative as we deliver a new era of rail,” Amtrak President Roger Harris said in a press release. “We are excited to take this important step toward providing safe and reliable service with a smaller impact on the environment.”
Amtrak’s procurement website says the company is seeking “vendor information in relation to the industry options for Zero-Emissions locomotive and trainset-compatible technologies. This includes battery, hydrogen, and overhead contact systems to replace the current convention diesel fleet used on Amtrak’s National Network in both revenue and non-revenue service.” Responses are due by July 31. The company says results of the RFI “will inform Amtrak’s future decisions to procure the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly fleet for deployment across Amtrak’s network.”
In 2022, the company announced its goal of Net Zero emissions by 2045 [see “Amtrak sets goal of net zero …,” Trains News Wire, Sept. 23, 2022]. That came just after the state of California announced it had ordered hydrogen-fuel cell trainsets that were initially presented as being for use in Amtrak California service, which would represent the first alternative power-source equipment for any Amtrak operation [see “Stadler unveils first hydrogen train for U.S. …,” News Wire, Sept. 21, 2022]. A subsequent addition to that order indicates the equipment is intended for the planned Valley Rail service, which covers both the Altamont Corridor Express commuter service and Amtrak’s San Joaquins [see “California orders six more …,” News Wire, Feb. 15, 2024].
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