Canadian Pacific is Testing Biodiesel Locomotives

Canadian freight rail operator Canadian Pacific, along with the state department Natural Resources Canada, is testing the effects of biodiesel fuel on locomotives during winter.

The five-month pilot programme, the first of its kind in the country, involves running four locomotives powered by diesel containing 5% of biodiesel made from animal fat, restaurant grease and vegetable oil.

Testing is being carried out on four GE AC4400 Diesel Locomotives with FDL-16 engines between Calgary and Edmonton and will run until March next year.

The programme is part of the government’s plans to regulate an average 2% renewable content in diesel fuel and heating oil by 2011 and an average 5% renewable fuel content based on the national gasoline pool by 2010, aimed at cutting greenhouse emissions.

The programme is being carried out using a $800,000 fund under the government’s National Renewable Diesel Demonstration Initiative.