Union Pacific

Exploring and Implementing New Technologies

Union Pacific has pioneered locomotive technology research, resulting in clean technologies that have become standard for railroads across the country. We’re still working hard to develop new technologies that can help us move goods in an even more sustainable fashion.

Reduced Engine Idling

Locomotive engines may be kept idling for several reasons: In a yard, they idle between work events; on the main line, they idle while meeting or passing other trains; in cold temperatures, they idle to keep their fuel and water lines from freezing. Union Pacific has developed a comprehensive plan to reduce the amount of time locomotive engines idle.

As a part of this strategy, all new locomotives have automatic Stop-Start equipment and older locomotives are being retrofitted with it, which eliminates unnecessary idling. Locomotive shutdowns can save 15-24 gallons of fuel, per locomotive, per day.

More than 70 percent of our locomotive fleet is equipped with this technology. Generally, Union Pacific’s locomotive shutdown rules reduce emissions and also save fuel. Locomotives are to be shut down if left standing 15 minutes or longer, unless the temperature is expected to drop below 35 degrees.

Intermediate Line-Haul Locomotives

When you invest in developing innovative technologies, it’s inevitable that not all of them will pan out the way you expect. Even if a given technology isn’t right for Union Pacific, it might work for someone else. The intermediate line-haul locomotive, used to move trains shorter distances rather than across the continent, is a good example. Working with suppliers, we helped develop and test a revolutionary intermediate line-haul locomotive that significantly reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by routing exhaust through a diesel oxidation catalyst. The technology works – and while we learned that it’s not yet right for our route structure, we expect it to serve as a stepping stone for other innovative ways to reduce our fuel usage and emissions. These locomotives are now being used in Southern California on the Pacific Harbor Line, a short line railroad, helping to reduce emissions in the Los Angeles area.

Genset, Alternative Fuels and Other Emissions-Reducing Technologies

Union Pacific is finding ways to improve how we move our trains and run our operations, resulting in better environmental performance. Visit our Environmental Management section to learn more about these and other new technologies.