CN intends to join forces with Wabtec to use the “next generation” of FLXdrive technology for its first 100% battery heavy-haul freight locomotive. Credit: Wabtec Corporation.

Railway firm Canadian National Railway (CN) has acquired the FLXdrive battery-electric freight locomotive from Wabtec.

The initiative has received financial backing from Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection under the Marine and Rail Freight Movers Grant Programme.

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CN intends to join forces with Wabtec to use the ‘next generation’ of FLXdrive technology for its first 100% battery heavy-haul freight locomotive.

The technology is expected to cut down emissions and fuel consumption by up to 30%, helping CN to achieve its green objectives.

Pennsylvania State Representative Parke Wentling said: “I am excited to see that the Canadian National’s Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad (B&LE) Company has received a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to help with the purchase of a new innovative Wabtec battery-electric locomotive.”

CN president and CEO Jean-Jacques Ruest said: “As part of our sustainability strategy to reduce freight transportation emissions through innovation, we plan to continue to lead the sector by deploying low and no-carbon technologies.

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“At CN, we believe rail has a tremendous potential to reduce the environmental impact of transportation. As a mover of the economy, CN is committed to playing a key role in the transition to a low-carbon economy.”

CN is said to be the ‘most fuel-efficient railway’ in North America that utilises nearly 15% less locomotive fuel per gross ton mile compared to the industry average.

In April, CN obtained the approval of the Science-Based Target Initiative (SBTi) for its goal to minimise scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions by 43% per million gross tonne miles by 2030 from the base year of 2019.

In addition, the company aims to cut down scope 3 GHG emissions from fuel and energy associated activities by 40% per million gross tonne miles by 2030.

Last month, Wabtec won a $69.28m (€60m) contract to supply platform gates for a metro automation project in Marseille, France.