State Grant Will Pay for Better Diesel Trains, Not Zero-Emission Trains, for Metrolink - Streetsblog California

"Last week, Streetsblog reported on $1.1 billion in transportation grants recommended by state agencies and approved by the California Transportation Commission at its December 3 and 4 meeting. In that article, I made an error that was flagged over the weekend by both transit advocates and Metrolink, the agency receiving one of the grants. Given the timing and the nature of the mistake, a more substantial correction than a brief update to the text felt warranted."

"Tier 4 locomotives are the cleanest diesel engines currently available, representing a major reduction in air pollution compared to earlier-generation Tier 2 engines built between 2005 and 2011. Tier 4 locomotives reduce particulate matter emissions by about 90 percent and significantly cut soot and smog-forming pollutants. They also reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by roughly 80 percent, lowering contributors to respiratory illness and acid rain."

"Adriana Rizzo of Californians for Electric Rail was the first to flag the error. "Looking at the actual request approved, the funding was for Tier 4 diesel locomotives of the same type already operating on the Metrolink system," she wrote. "While these engines are significantly lower-emission and compliant with certain clean air regulations, they are not actually zero-emission and still produce criteria pollutants-unlike battery, catenary, or hydrogen fuel cell trains," she wrote."

A $53 million grant to Metrolink was approved to purchase Tier 4 diesel locomotives rather than zero-emission units. The funding request specified Tier 4 diesel locomotives of the same type already operating on the Metrolink system. Tier 4 locomotives markedly reduce pollution compared with earlier Tier 2 engines, cutting particulate matter by about 90 percent and nitrogen oxides by roughly 80 percent. Despite these reductions, Tier 4 engines continue to emit criteria pollutants. Advocates are urging a shift from cleaner diesel to truly zero-emission technologies such as battery, catenary, or hydrogen fuel cell trains.

Read at Streetsblog