CN railway orders four LNG tenders from Westport

10 June 2013

Westport Innovations announced the launch of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) tender for natural gas powered locomotives with an order for four tenders from Canadian National Railway (CN). The first tender will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Putting the LNG on an LNG tender, rather than replacing the diesel fuel tanks on existing locomotives, can offer a number of advantages:

• More than 10,000 gallons LNG capacity provides longer range than a diesel locomotive.
• “Intelligent fueling controls” have been designed to allow tenders to supply fuel to natural gas locomotives from most manufacturers.
• Each tender can support two locomotives, reducing the capital investment required to move to LNG.
• The tender utilizes an industry standard vehicle design and 40' LNG ISO tank.

“CN is testing natural gas locomotives and Westport's experience in providing LNG solutions for transportation makes it the natural partner for us,” said Gerry Weber, CN Vice-President Supply, Fleet and Fuel Management. “These tenders will be used immediately with our dual fuel locomotives in mainline service, allowing CN to continue to explore this technology as a means to advance the company's sustainability agenda and improve environmental emissions.”

Westport is collaborating with INOXCVA, a manufacturer of cryogenic transportation equipment, on these tenders. Westport and INOXCVA have entered into an agreement for cryogenic systems.

Source: Westport