(The Associated Press circulated the following story by Dan Caterinicchia on October 11.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The first freight train equipped with new technology enabling it to stop more quickly and to travel longer distances between required brake tests began hauling coal Thursday under a waiver approved by federal regulators.
The Norfolk Southern Corp. train, consisting of three new locomotives and 115 coal gondolas, will be used in regular service between coal mines in southwestern Pennsylvania and the Keystone Generating Station in Shelocta, Pa., the company said.
The new electronically controlled pneumatic brakes are designed to improve engineers’ ability to control trains by applying uniform pressure on all wheels simultaneously, instead of from one car to the next, as is done with conventional air brake systems.
The technology also is designed to reduce train derailments, improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions through better handling, according to the Federal Railroad Administration.
Norfolk Southern said it plans to equip 30 locomotives and a total of more than 400 cars and gondolas with the brakes for coal train service. The company is working with its locomotive supplier General Electric Co., brake system provider New York Air Brake and rail car provider Freight Car America on the program.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. also received a waiver to start outfitting trains with the new brakes and its first trip with the technology is expected before the end of the year.
Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph H. Boardman on Thursday encouraged other railroads to adopt the new braking technology, which permit a train to travel up to 3,500 miles between routine tests. That enables container cars emanating from West Coast ports to reach Chicago without stopping and coal trains to make quicker deliveries to eastern and southern power plants.
But converting to the new brakes will cost the railroad industry roughly $1.5 billion over 20 years, according to a government estimate released last month. Still, the total benefits expected to be nearly $3.2 billion, including more than $1.2 billion in fuel savings.
Besides New York Air Brake, which is owned by Germany’s Knorr-Bremse Group, Wabtec Corp. also makes the new brakes and other manufacturers have plans in development, according to the Transportation Department.
Shares of Norfolk Southern added 44 cents to $53.74 in afternoon trading.