AURIZON has contracted Progress Rail to build what it claims will be the first zero-emissions capable freight locomotive constructed in Australia.
Rail freight operator Aurizon said the new locomotive will be powered by batteries, allowing for potential future use of renewable energy for freight hauls.
It said the batteries would also capture regenerative energy created when trains brake or travel downhill.
The heavy-haul freight locomotive prototype is being built at Progress Rail’s Redbank facility in south-east Queensland.
Aurizon managing director and CEO Andrew Harding believes modern freight locomotives using renewable energy sources have the potential to transform the nation’s freight supply chains.
“Not only will this dramatically reduce the carbon footprint for our freight transport needs and the community in general, but it will also provide a significant competitive advantage for Australian industries and exporters in global markets,” Mr Harding said.
“Australia is ideally positioned to supply the world with great reserves of future-facing commodities that will fuel and feed a decarbonising world for decades to come. This includes commodities such as copper, nickel, rare earths, grain and phosphate.
“Delivering high-quality Australian products for export across zero or low-carbon supply chains will be a win- win for Australian companies and Australian communities.”
Progress Rail senior vice president Colin Kerelchuk said the rail technology company was excited to support Aurizon’s plans for carbon reduction.
“This project leverages our worldwide capabilities, while heavily relying on our expert workforce in Australia,” Mr Kerelchuk said.
“We will deliver this EMD Joule out of our Redbank, Queensland facility, where we have recently secured a long-term lease extension to continue operations through 2034.
“With a presence in Queensland since 2015, we are well positioned to deliver broad technology and fleetwide modernizations to improve our customers’ operational and emissions efficiencies.”
Aurizon has also commissioned the University of Queensland and Central Queensland University to model and research emerging battery technology, network infrastructure and charging facilities required to provide renewable electricity to the locomotive batteries.
The design phase and preliminary retrofit work has commenced at Redbank.
Aurizon expects construction of the locomotive to be complete by early 2025, with on-track trials commencing in the first half of 2025.
It said the charging infrastructure on the selected Australian rail corridor will be completed concurrently.
