MONTREAL and PITTSBURGH — Canadian National has placed an order with Wabtec to modernize 60 Dash-9 locomotives in CN’s existing fleet, the two companies have announced.
The new order builds on a previous 50-unit order and will bring the total modernized fleet to 110 locomotives. The locomotives involved will be converted from DC to AC-powered traction and will gain such enhancements as the FDL Advantage engine upgrade and digital features such as Trip Optimizer and Locotrol Distributed Power. The upgrades will extend the life of the locomotives and provide benefits include fuel-efficiency improvements of up to 18% through engine and digital-technology enhancements, an expected increase in reliability of more than 40%, and an increase in pulling power of up to 55%, the companies said.
“Modernizing these locomotives cost-effectively improves the reliability of our existing fleet and contributes to reducing our rail carbon footprint,” Mark Grubbs, CN vice-president mechanical, said in a press release. “In addition to reducing the environmental impact of our own operations, it helps us to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of our customers.”
CN expects to realize up to 50,000 metric tons in annual greenhouse gas emission reductions from the total program, the equivalent of removing nearly 10,700 non-electric passenger cars. Additionally, the modernization order will reuse or recycle approximately 11,000 metric tons of steel.
CN received the first locomotive in the initial modernization order, 4,500-hp AC44C6M No. 3300, last October at the Wabtec plant in Fort Worth, Texas [see “Canadian National receives first diesel in Wabtec remanufacturing order,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 17, 2022]. The units are essentially indistinguishable from a new diesel.
“Our modernization solutions allow CN to enhance its existing fleet by upgrading to Wabtec’s state-of-the-art technology to enhance the locomotives’ performance to current standards,” said Alicia Hammersmith, President of Wabtec Freight Services. “Our modernization program supports the circular economy and is a key component of Wabtec’s sustainability approach through processes that reduce waste, extend life, and improve fuel efficiency, thereby driving emissions reductions and helping customers save money.”
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