JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation took delivery of the 300th GE DC Evolution Series locomotive. The unit bears road number 5501.
The unit features fuel-saving technologies to help CSX further reduce fuel costs while cutting down on noise and emissions. The GEVO 12 cylinder engine produces 4400 HP while achieving a fuel savings over the previous generation of GE locomotives and reduces, on average, regulated emissions by more than 40 percent.
“CSX Transportation is committed to operating locomotives with new technologies that benefit our operations and the environment,” said Rich Regan, Vice President – Mechanical. “The Evolution Series fleet has fewer failures per locomotive per year than the rest of our GE fleet.”
In addition to the fuel saving benefits of the Evolution Series locomotive, this unit also features GE’s Auto Engine Start Stop technology. With Auto Engine Start Stop (AESS), customers can save a lot of fuel that is wasted when a locomotive is in idle. With AESS, a locomotive can continue to perform its monitoring functions while keeping the locomotive in an operating state.
“Since the launch of the Evolution Series locomotive in 2005, the growth of the rail industry has demonstrated the need for efficient and reliable technology,” said John M. Dineen, President and CEO of GE Transportation. “Customers like CSX are building their fleet with our locomotive technology that can help them run their operations more efficiently but also provides a platform for future reduction in emissions and fuel usage.”
The locomotives are among the first of 17 products in GE’s Ecomagination portfolio. Ecomagination is a GE initiative to bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet their most pressing environmental challenges. GE – Transportation’s GEVO 12 engine will consume over 170,000 fewer gallons of fuel in its lifetime compared to models GE built in 2004.
“CSXT evaluates many cost factors before awarding any contract, and this is especially true for a locomotive contract. Environmental impact, fuel consumption, reliability, serviceability and the value of our ongoing partnership with GE were all key elements in this decision,” said Fran Chinnici, Vice President – Purchasing & Materials.
— Business Wire
