Renfe (Spain’s national rail network), Gas Natural Fenosa and Enagás, in collaboration with Institut Cerdà (a private engineering innovator in Barcelona), ARMF (a specialised railways restoration workshop) and classification society Bureau Veritas are preparing first traction tests in Europe of a train powered by liquefied natural gas. It may also be the first in the world to test LNG on a passenger train. Read more »
Indonesia Explores LNG for Rail
Indonesia’s oil and gas corporation PT Pertamina (Persero) and railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), both state-owned, are testing Liquefied Natural gas (LNG) as a fuel for rail transportation. Static and dynamic tests have been carried out at Balai Yasa, the rail services yard in Yogyakarta. Activities that are part of the rail conversion program from high speed diesel (HSD) to liquefied natural gas (LNG) are said to be the first in Southeast Asia. Read more »
North American JV Pursues CNG as Future Fuel for Rail
North-American based Hexagon Lincoln (Hexagon), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hexagon Composites, has undertaken a new direction with entry into rail. Hexagon is collaborating with Allegheny Creative Energy Solutions LLC (ACES) and Resonance Mode, Inc in a joint venture that will call on the partners to develop and manufacture compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel solutions for the rail industry. Read more »
Russia to Implement Gas-Powered Shunting and Mainline Locomotives
An Agreement of Cooperation signed last week at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum by Gazprom, Russian Railways, and domestic machine builders Sinara Group and Transmashholding (TMH) signals a new phase of development for the wider use of natural gas to fuel locomotives in Russia. The agreement provides for the consolidation of companies’ efforts to introduce the use of natural gas as a motor fuel for railway rolling stock. Read more »
Tenders Under Consideration CNG Locomotive Conversions
Two SW1500 locomotives will be converted to dual-fuel CNG in the first phase.
Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad Company (IHB) recently leased two SW1500 locomotives from CIT Rail to kick-start it’s locomotive conversion program to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). The SW1500 locomotive’s small wheel base makes it a suitable choice for yard operation and local switching where tight curves and switches are the norm. Following the issuing of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for “CNG Locomotive Repower” issued Feb 25 2016 , IHB is now evaluating submissions in preparation for conversion of up to 31 locomotives. Read more »
Another CNG DEMU Hits the Rails in India
Indian Railways Organisation for Alternate Fuels (IROAF) has followed up the launch of Compressed Natural Gas dual-fuel rakes (a coupled group of coaches) in January this year with another CNG DEMU rake that will operate between Shamli and Delhi. This service has been inaugurated by Hon’ble Minister of State for Railways Shri Manoj Sinha on 7th July 2015 at Shamli station. Read more »
Skangass Signs VTG to Supply LNG Wagons
VTG Aktiengesellschaft, one of Europe’s leading wagon hire and rail logistics companies, signed the first hire contract with the option to order LNG rail tank wagons with the Nordic company Skangass AS at the ‘Transport Logistic’ fair in Munich. Skangass is a supplier of liquefied natural gas for bunkering, including fuel for Fjord Line’s LNG passenger ferries MS Stavangerfjord and MS Bergensfjord. Read more »
Omnitek Natural Gas Technology Powers Converted Czech Railways Locomotive
Natural gas engine technology developed by Californian company Omnitek Engineering Corp. is being utilized in two TEDOM natural gas locomotive engines powering a Czech Railways train in a pilot program with scheduled service three times daily between the Czech cities of Opava and Hlučín. The low-emission dedicated natural gas engines from TEDOM, based in Jablonec nad Nisou, are certified to the Euro5 EEV emissions standard.
VTG and Brunsbüttel Ports Cooperate on LNG
VTG Aktiengesellschaft, one of the leading wagon hire and logistics companies in Europe and Brunsbüttel Ports GmbH, owner and operator of the Brunsbüttel group of ports, have signed an agreement in which both parties reaffirmed their commitment to the promising and environmentally-friendly energy source, liquefied natural gas (LNG). Read more »
VMG Introduces CNG Locomotive in Czech Republic
Vitkovice CNG Locomotive undergoing testing.
The Czech engineering company Vitkovice Machinery Group (VMG) has launched a Compressed Natural Gas-powered locomotive for rail operations between Opava and Hlučín. The 15 meter long and four meter high locomotive is described as among the most powerful of its kind in Europe. It was developed by VMG’s Vitkovice Transport division and Railway Research Institute, using a rebuilt 714 diesel locomotive provided by the Czech Railways (ČD). Read more »
