Alstom is modernizing two U.S. locomotives by converting them to battery power

Alstom is modernizing two locomotives in the United States by converting them to battery power. This was reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The project received $16 million from the Department of Transportation under the CRISI program.

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The work will be conducted at Alstom’s service center in Bath, New York. The two locomotives scheduled for modernization are GP38 and GP40 models, originally built by EMD in the 1960s.

With new battery systems as the primary power source, locomotive power will increase by 50%. Project engineers believe this will maximize power unit efficiency and expand operational potential.

Additionally, Alstom is modernizing these locomotives to allow for a future diesel replacement. This design prepares the locomotives for a zero-emission power system when technology and cost make it feasible.

Switching to battery power helps lower the environmental impact of these trains. The railway carrier Norfolk Southern will conduct field testing of these modernized locomotives on its own rail network.

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