Amtrak Continues Toward Goals of Zero Emissions

Image: The new Amtrak Airo series trains. (photo via Amtrak Media)
Image: The new Amtrak Airo series trains. (photo via Amtrak Media)
Kristen Hess
by Kristen Hess
Last updated: 3:00 PM ET, Tue April 16, 2024

As of April 16, 2024, Amtrak has filed a Request for Information (RFI) to further help the rail operator achieve its goals of building an emission-free fleet in the near future.  

“Finding the cleanest technologies to carry customers across our vast network will be transformative as we deliver a new era of rail,” Amtrak President Roger Harris said. “We are excited to take this important step toward providing safe and reliable service with a smaller impact on the environment.”

Although much of Amtrak's fleet is currently zero-emission, with about 108 emissions-free electric locomotives currently calling Amtrak's fleet their home, Amtrak is striving to achieve net zero emissions by 2045 through the following measures:

  • Committing to increase its ridership to about 66 million a year by 2040 to decrease the number of car and plane passengers 
  • Currently having half of all of its electricity come from carbon-free sources, and striving to acquire all of its electricity from carbon-free sources by 2030
  • Having already ordered 83 new Amtrak Airo trains that produce up to 90 percent less emissions, 28 new all-electric Acela trains which use up to 40 percent less energy, and also a batch of Siemens charger locomotives, which are EPA Tier 4 compliant
  • Supporting its California partners to help them switch to renewable diesel 

 


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Kristen Hess

Kristen Hess

Editor Kristen Hess true 106 14744 Kristen Hess is an intern working for NorthStar Travel Group specialising in custom content writing. She is a former alumni of Bergen Community College where she studied film and literature and her hobbies include writing, music, a

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