The EU intends to convert diesel locomotive traction to biodiesel

Europorte has already agreed with biofuel producer Saipol to test the use of rapeseed oil instead of diesel on Stadler Euro4000 locomotives.

The EU has launched a new railway manifesto (The European Startup Manifesto on Rail), which contains proposals designed to promote the use of green technologies – in other words, the decarbonisation of rail transport, informs Railway Supply magazine

The French freight carrier Europorte has already agreed with the manufacturer of vegetable oils and biofuels Saipol to conduct joint tests on the use of rapeseed oil instead of diesel on Stadler Euro4000 locomotives, released in 2010.

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The tests are scheduled for July 6 in the sections of Nogen-sur-Seine – Dunkirk and Nojan-sur-Seine – Sotteville-les-Rouen and will last 3 months. According to Europorte, with the expected level of locomotive mileage of 1.5 thousand km per week, CO₂ emissions should be reduced by 35 tons.

It is proposed to include this startup in the list of projects that can apply for joint state funding in the EU. These include the DB Cargo UK project. It has recently been announced that all locomotives running between the company’s site in Mountsorrell and the asphalt plant in Birmingham will be converted to biofuels.

This is biodiesel, which is based on vegetable oil (HVO). At the end of February 2021, DB Cargo UK recognized this type of fuel and confirmed the possibility of using HVO in locomotives of classes 60, 66 and 67.

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«Railway Supply» magazine №3-2021

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