GORAIL - Carbon Emission Reductions through Improved Locomotive Design

QR Limited has reduced their greenhouse gas emission over the last 7 years though improvements to locomotive design.

This has included overhauling our passenger Citytrain’s EMU fleet to re-engineer and extend the lifespan of the fleet and improve reliability and on-time performance, including overhauling and replacing pneumatic systems to increase efficiency and reduce parasitic losses (that is, by repairing leaks, cleaning out piping, replacing older reciprocating compressors with screw-type compressors, overhauling door engines, etc) and fitting redesigned high efficiency air conditioning units using smaller scroll compressors and non-ozone depleting refrigerants.

QR introduced “smart train” technologies for adjusting train speed and performance depending on track and environmental conditions and upgrading and refurbishing of the 2300 class Diesel Electric Locomotives, including the addition of turbocharging to the 12-cylinder 2 stroke EMD engines to significantly improve horsepower and fuel economy.

QR's new 4000 class (heavy haul) locomotives offer more efficient engines fitted with EMDEC fuel injection, a split cooling system and onboard computers for diagnosis and troubleshooting and radial steer bogies designed to improve fuel efficiency by 25%.

QR launched the southern hemisphere’s first tilt train passenger service which has the advantages of 25% increased curving speed on the existing track to reduce journey time and enhance energy efficiency and an AC traction system with high efficiency IGBT switching elements (cf older thyristor switching elements) and regenerative braking to feed excess energy back into the electricity distribution system (cf rheostatic or friction braking where the energy is lost as heat).

SMU 220s commenced service in the suburban Citytrain network, which have the advantages of an AC traction system with high efficiency IGBT switching elements and regenerative braking, main compressors that switch off after an hour when stationary, high efficiency air conditioning units and scroll compressors using, non-ozone depleting refrigerants.

QR specify engine emission levels for new diesel locomotives in line with current overseas regulations, condition monitoring and regular maintenance of the existing diesel fleet to ensure optimal performance and reduced emissions.

As one of the last integrated railways in the world, QR leads the world in narrow guage technology and have implemented rail solutions in 26 countries.

GORAIL is a QR Limited and QRNational Initiative

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