Control of Emissions
from Idling Locomotives
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sets emission stan-
dards for nitrogen oxides (NOx), hydrocarbons (HC), carbon
monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM), and smoke for newly built
and remanufactured locomotives and locomotive engines. EPA recent-
ly proposed new lower emissions standards and idle-emission controls.
This fact sheet provides technical background on the issue of locomo-
tive idling and describes what EPA is doing to reduce emissions from
this source.
Why do railroads allow locomotives to idle for long periods of time?
During normal railroad operations, locomotives sometimes must wait for freight cars
to be switched and picked up, for another train to clear track on which the locomo-
tive is to proceed, or for mechanical service. Historically, locomotives have been left
idling while they are waiting. In some cases, there are practical reasons why current
locomotives need to be left idling. In other cases, locomotive operators might simply
idle the engines due to custom, habit, or misunderstandings about diesel engines. As
we describe in this fact sheet, EPA is working to address all of these causes.
The reasons why current locomotives need to be left idling can be technological or
related to worker and passenger needs. First, diesel engines are generally difficult to
start when cold, and prone to being damaged during startup in extremely cold tem-
peratures. This problem tends to be worse for larger engines, and thus is of special
concern for locomotives. Also, locomotive engines are typically designed to use water
without antifreeze because it is better at cooling the engine. However, the water can
freeze in cold weather and crack the engine block. As a result, shutting locomotives
off in cold weather has historically been avoided as much as possible.
Also, locomotive engines might also need to idle to maintain critical functions such
as air pressure for brakes and battery charge. Finally, in some cases, locomotives will
idle to supply air-conditioning or heat to its crew and/or passengers, in part to comply
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
EPA420-F-07-028
March 2007
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with regulations and contractual requirements related to working conditions for the crew. (None
of the rules related to working conditions are established by EPA).
What is EPA doing to control idle emissions from locomotives?
EPA is working hard to reduce emissions from locomotives, both while they are pulling freight
and while idling. However, the Clean Air Act does not give EPA unlimited ability to regulate
locomotives. Section 213(a)(5) and related provisions provide EPA the authority to establish
emission standards for newly manufactured and remanufactured locomotives, as well as to pro-
hibit railroads or anyone else from tampering with emission controls. These provisions do not
appear to provide EPA with particular authority to prevent railroads or other locomotive users
from idling. Thus, as described below, EPA's regulatory efforts to reduce emissions from idling lo-
comotives focus on changing the locomotives themselves rather than regulating when railroads
may allow locomotives to idle.
In 1998, EPA finalized emission standards for locomotives that provided significant emission
reductions for all types of operation. These standards went into effect in 2000. In addition to ap-
plying to all newly manufactured locomotives, the standards also require most existing locomo-
tives be retrofitted with emissions controls when they are remanufactured. (This happens every
five to 20 years, depending on the locomotive). These retrofit requirements will significantly
reduce emissions from existing locomotives.
We have also established a rigorous emission testing program to make sure locomotives comply
with these standards for their operational life. When fully phased-in, these requirements will
reduce NOx emissions from locomotives by nearly two-thirds, and HC and PM emissions by
half. These standards will also significantly reduce smoke emissions and exhaust odors.
In designing this locomotive emission-control program, we established several provisions to
ensure that emissions are reduced at all operating conditions, including while idling. First, we
require locomotives to comply with the emission standards over two different duty cycles: a
high-power cycle that represents cross-country operation and a low-power cycle that represents
freightyard operation. To comply with these requirements, locomotive manufacturers need to
reduce emissions for all power levels from idle to full power. Second, we included additional
regulatory incentives for locomotives to be redesigned to automatically shut down if they are
idled for long periods of time. Finally, we require railroads to improve their maintenance prac-
tices so that when locomotives are idling, their emissions are kept as low as would be expected
from a brand new locomotive.
While we believe these existing regulations will achieve significant emission reductions from
idling locomotives, we also know more can be done. That is why we recently proposed new
requirements to further reduce emissions from idling locomotives. In addition to tighter emis-
sion standards, EPA has proposed to require that all newly manufactured and remanufactured
locomotives be equipped with special devices that will automatically shut locomotives down if
they are left idling unnecessarily. While such devices can't eliminate all idling, they can reduce
most unneeded idling.
Control of Emissions from Idling Locomotives
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When will these mandatory emission reductions occur?
Emission standards and other requirements began reducing idle emissions as early as 2000. But
because locomotives last as long as 50 years, the number of new ultralow-emission locomotives
in a railroad's fleet will be small during the start of this program. Some other parts of this pro-
gram will achieve more immediate reductions, such as the requirement that most older locomo-
tives be retrofitted with emission controls when they are remanufactured and provisions that
require the use of automatic engine-shutdown features. However, it will still take several years
before these regulatory improvements approach full effectiveness.
What are railroads doing to control idle emissions from locomotives?
EPA has been working with the nation's major railroads to implement voluntary efforts to
reduce idle emissions beyond the mandated reductions. All Class I railroads have joined the
SmartWay Transport Program: CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, Canadian National Rail-
way, BNSF Railway Co., Canadian Pacific Railway, Kansas City Southern Railway, and Union
Pacific Railroad Co. As part of their SmartWay commitment, each railroad has submitted action
plans describing the steps they are taking to significantly reduce carbon dioxide, NOx, and PM
emissions, and to conserve considerable amounts of diesel fuel. Every Class I railroad action plan
includes efforts to reduce idling through a variety of technologies and strategies, including auto-
matic engine stop-start systems, auxiliary power units or diesel-driven heating systems, electrical
shorepower connections, and company idle-shutdown policies.
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What can I do about locomotives idling in my neighborhood?
You should first contact the local railroad facility and ask about its operating practices, includ-
ing the shutdown policy. If they are unable to help you, you might want to contact the corporate
headquarters. Addresses and phone numbers for the major railroads are listed below.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe
2650 Lou Menk Dr.
Fort Worth, TX 7613 1 -2830
800-795-2673
Canadian Pacific Railway
(Includes Soo Lines)
501 Marquette Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55402
800-777-4499
Kansas City Southern
427 W. 1 2th St.
Kansas City, MO 64105
816-983-1303
Canadian National Railway (includes
Grand Trunk, Illinois Central, and
Wisconsin Central)
935 de La Gauchetiere St. W
Montreal, Quebec H3B 2M9
Canada
CSX Transportation
500 Water St.
Jacksonville, FL 32202
904-359-3100
Norfolk Souther Corp.
3 Commercial PL
Norfolk, VA 23510-2191
757-629-2600
Control of Emissions from Idling Locomotives
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u
Union Pacific Railroad
1400 Douglas St.
Omaha, NE 68179
402-544-5000
For More Information About EPA's
Locomotive Control Program
You can access documents related to our regulation of locomotives on EPA's Office of
Transportation and Air Quality Web site at:
www.epa.gov/otaq/locomotv.htm
Documents related to EPA's voluntary idle-reduction programs are available at:
www.epa.gov/smartway/idling.htm
For further information, please contact us at:
Contact for Regulatory Programs:
Assessment and Standards Division
U.S. EPA
2000 Traverwood Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
734-214-4636
asdinfo@epa.gov
Contact for Voluntary Programs:
SmartWay Transport Partnership
U.S. EPA
2000 Traverwood Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
734-214-4767
smartway_transport@epa.gov
Control of Emissions from Idling Locomotives
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