GORAIL - Carbon Emission Reductions through Improved Train Driver Training

Teaching train drivers more efficient ways to drive has resulted in dramatic fuel savings for Queensland Rail (QR), helping cut greenhouse gas emissions.

QR, Australia's largest rail network, has used driver training,locomotive and track upgrades and other means to substantially reduce emissions for every passenger and tonne of freight it carries, winning QR the Australian Greenhouse Challenge Award.

Three years into its five-year plan to reduce emissions, QR successfully abated 329,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas in 2003 - 15 percent better than QR's original goal.

This also accounts for 69 percent of the original Greenhouse Challenge five-year agreement of 477,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas.

In simpler terms, it equates to 21,500 fewer cars being on the road each year. (News from the EPA and QPWS August 2003)

In 2007, QR reported a total cumulative abatement reduction of 1,700,000 tCO2-e since 2000, representing an increased average reduction every year since 2000 of 242,820 tC02-e.

QR have been providing ongoing driver training in the dynamics and smooth running of trains to maximise fuel efficiencies and minimise maintenance costs with train drivers applying improved skills have reduced their fuel usage by up to 18 percent, with an average 4 percent reduction across the fleet.

In addition to this, we have introduced new-generation state-of-the-art driver training simulators.

Our continuous improvement in driver training includes the recent introduction of Freightmiser technology in QR trains allowing drivers to monitor their real time fuel efficiency.

GORAIL is a QR Limited and QRNational Initiative

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