MBTA, Keolis testing renewable fuel for commuter locomotives

Keolis Commuter Services and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) have launched a pilot project to use renewable diesel fuel in locomotives at the Newburyport commuter-rail facility.

The locomotives are now being fueled with hydrotreated vegetable oil, which is expected to reduce CO2 emissions and the rail system's overall carbon footprint, Keolis officials said in a press release.

“This pilot program is a great opportunity to utilize an innovative new approach and can reduce CO2 emissions by more than 70% for these locomotives compared to fossil diesel," said Keolis CEO and General Manager Abdellah Chajai. Keolis operates MBTA's commuter-rail service.

So far, Keolis and the MBTA have reported steady locomotive performance. The agencies will evaluate the performance of the renewable fuel at the end of the pilot and decide if the program should be implemented at other locations on the commuter-rail system.

The pilot project joins other efforts at the MBTA's T service to reduce carbon emissions, according to MBTA GM and CEO Phillip Eng.