Better locomotives

Because locomotive diesel engines are the most significant source of CN's air emissions, the company continues to purchase new, more energy-efficient locomotives to reduce emissions.

• CN is committed to renewing our fleet with more fuel-efficient locomotives through our annual fleet renewal program.  This program will enable the Company to retire older locomotives with newer electro-motive diesel (EMD) locomotives. The new units produce 40 per cent less nitrogen oxides and are at least 15 to 20 per cent more fuel-efficient than the locomotives they will replace. All new locomotives will comply fully with the latest regulatory requirements to reduce locomotive emissions.
• In 2002, we began a program to remanufacture some of our main line fleet diesel locomotives. Remanufacturing these locomotives increases locomotive efficiency and reliability as well as ensures the locomotives meet U.S. EPA Tier O regulations for nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission reductions. More

Focused fuel conservation

• Automatic Stop/Start Devices conserve fuel and reduce emissions by automatically shutting down locomotives when they are not in use. Over 50 per cent of the switcher fleet in our Canadian operations has been retrofitted to employ this feature. We are also retrofitting our high horsepower fleet with Start/Stop devices and all new CN locomotives.
• The Low Idle feature on locomotives saves approximately 10 litres of fuel an hour by allowing the diesel engine to idle at a reduced speed when locomotives are coasting down hill or awaiting assignment.
• Dynamic Brakes use less fuel to control train speed. Ninety-one per cent of CN's mainline locomotives are equipped with dynamic brake systems. Where operations permit, the use of pacing, or coasting to a stop rather than using heavy braking requiring engine power, also yields fuel and emissions reductions.
• When only one locomotive is needed to pull a train, the second can be allowed to “coast” to save fuel.
• Notch limiting means locomotives are not run in their top notch setting when maximum power is not required. The practice saves fuel while providing adequate horsepower to maintain velocity.

Better practices in our rail yards

• Ongoing crew training and awareness programs focus on the importance of fuel conservation practices. CN reviews variances between how trains are operated and handled, which can have a significant impact on fuel consumption and emissions.
• Locomotive shutdowns in yards, in accordance with our Shutdown Policy, bring important fuel savings.
• Streamlined car handling results in switching only the number of cars needed in our yards – reducing emissions.

Other initiatives

• Rail Lubrication reduces surface friction between the rail and the freight cars, requiring less effort to maintain a specific speed. Lower fuel consumption and lower GHG emissions are the result. Top of Rail lubrication systems have been deployed successfully to reduce rail friction on CN's very busy B.C. South corridor as well as on the former B.C. Rail network.
• Flange lubricators apply lubrication to the flange of the locomotive wheel which reduces surface friction.
• CN investigates and adopts new engine technologies that have been proven effective in lowering fuel consumption and emissions, such as battery powered hybrid switches and alternative fuels.
• Since 2004, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) has required all new freight cars to be equipped with trucks that steer better around curves. This reduces lateral curve forces on the rails, resulting in lower fuel consumption and less wear on the rail. Over 100,000 new cars with the better steering M-976 trucks have been built in North America since 2004, any of which are allowed to run on almost all CN lines.
• The practice of reassigning older locomotives to lines with less traffic ensures that newer, more fuel efficient locomotives are used in the heaviest work cycle.

Partnerships

• Signatory to the U.S. SmartWay Agreement – a voluntary program between the Environmental Protection Agency and the rail industry to eliminate between 33-60 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions and up to 200,000 tons of nitrogen oxide emissions per year in the United States by 2012.
  Savings from the U.S. SmartWay Agreement are expected to be as much as 150 million barrels of oil per year – equivalent to taking about 12 million cars off the road.
• Memorandum of Understanding with Environment Canada and Transport Canada – in conjunction with the Railway Association of Canada to reduce air pollutants and improve railway fuel efficiency.
• Government of Alberta Carbon Offset Program – adoption of a protocol that gives shippers emissions credits for switching from truck to rail.