WASHINGTON — One of CSX Transportation’s GenSet locomotives will be on display Saturday at Washington’s Union Station, part of the third annual National Train Day event to celebrate the 141st anniversary of the transcontinental railroad. Celebrations, hosted by Amtrak, will take place coast to coast and highlight how trains have transformed America.
CSX employees will be on hand to explain how the ultra-low emissions GenSet switching locomotive operates, including its ability to significantly reduce emissions. In addition, employees will discuss the environmental and economic benefits of shipping by rail.
“National Train Day is a great opportunity for Americans across the country to learn about the economic and environmental benefits railroads offer,” said Carl Gerhardstein, CSX Transportation director, environmental systems. “At CSX, we are working toward continuous, consistent improvement in our safety and operations to get more efficient every day. We are committed to moving the things that matter in ways that matter – protecting our environment today and tomorrow.”
The environmental benefits of rail are significant. Moving freight by rail is three times more fuel-efficient than moving freight on the highway. Trains can move a ton of freight more than 436 miles on a single gallon of fuel. In fact, one freight train can move the goods of more than 280 trucks. Because of its incredible fuel efficiency, freight rail moves more than 40% of all intercity freight and accounts for just 2% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from transportation sources.
Over the last decade, CSX has invested more than $1.5 billion to purchase new, more fuel efficient locomotives, and has modernized many existing locomotives to further reduce emissions and fuel consumption. Since 1980, CSX has improved fuel efficiency over 90% while handling significantly more freight. CSX is the first railroads to join the Climate Leaders program and commit to an 8% decline in greenhouse gas intensity by 2011.
CSX traces its roots back to the founding of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in 1827, the nation’s first common carrier.
“We have a more than 180-year record of moving the goods that people need,” Gerhardstein said. “Freight rail will play an even more important role in addressing environmental and infrastructure needs in the years ahead.”
