Union Pacific Bases First Hybrid Locomotive in California

Omaha, Neb., April 6, 2005 – Union Pacific Railroad announced today that it is basing its first low-emissions diesel-hybrid locomotive in California to help reduce air emissions in cooperation with federal, state and local environmental agencies. The locomotive will be used in light switching service in the Fresno yard area.

"This locomotive is one of several low-emissions locomotive technologies that Union Pacific is testing and evaluating," said Jim Young, Union Pacific president. "We are pleased that we have been able to work with the California Air Resources Board, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and the Environmental Protection Agency to make this possible."

The locomotive is powered by large banks of storage batteries. When the locomotive is not running, a small low-emissions diesel engine on board recharges the batteries.

It is expected the hybrid will cut air emissions by 80 percent and reduce diesel fuel use by 16 percent compared to a conventional diesel-powered switching locomotive. This locomotive is the world's largest and heaviest hybrid land vehicle currently in production. Union Pacific is the first major railroad to regularly operate the hybrid locomotive.

The hybrid locomotive has been designated by the California Air Resources Board as an "ultra low-emitting locomotive" because its exhaust emissions are significantly lower than the current Environmental Protection Agency requirements for locomotive emissions. Railroad locomotives have been regulated by the federal government since Jan. 1, 2000. Locomotive emissions regulations are currently in their third level or "tier" since inception in 2000, with each level being increasingly stringent in allowable amounts of nitrous oxides and particulate matter in locomotive exhaust.

The original hybrid test locomotive was nicknamed "Green Goat" for its environmentally symbolic green paint scheme by its builder, Railpower Technologies, of Vancouver, British Columbia. "Goat" is a traditional railroad term for locomotives used in yard switching operations. The Fresno unit is painted in Union Pacific’s yellow and gray colors.

Union Pacific tested the experimental Green Goat in its Roseville, California, and Chicago yards during the second half of 2002 and the first half of 2003, respectively.

Union Pacific Corporation owns one of America’s leading transportation companies. Its principal operating company, Union Pacific Railroad, is the largest railroad in North America, covering 23 states across the western two-thirds of the United States. A strong focus on quality and a strategically advantageous route structure enable the company to serve customers in critical and fast growing markets. It is a leading carrier of low-sulfur coal used in electrical power generation and has broad coverage of the large chemical-producing areas along the Gulf Coast. With competitive long-haul routes between all major West Coast ports and eastern gateways, and as the only railroad to serve all six major gateways to Mexico, Union Pacific has the premier rail franchise in North America.

For further information, call John Bromley 402 - 305-0838 or Mark Davis 402 - 544-5459.

 

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