Amtrak publishes annual sustainability report

Amtrak has cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by more than 450,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide since 2010, and pledges to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2045, the railroad announced in its annual sustainability report.

Released yesterday, the fiscal-year 2022 report details how Amtrak reduced diesel usage and air emissions and increased purchases of carbon-free energy.

"As we build a more modern Amtrak with federal funding from the landmark Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, we aim to lead a new era of sustainable passenger rail," said CEO Stephen Gardner in a press release.

Among the report's highlights:

• Following a 2020-2021 pilot conducted by Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority and Caltrans — with support from Amtrak — locomotive manufacturers approved the use of renewable diesel on California's state-supported passenger trains to begin in FY 2023. The change reduces reliance on fossil fuels and cuts lifecycle emissions produced by diesel locomotives;

• In Chicago, Amtrak decreased fuel use. Efforts included reducing locomotive idling by using automatic engine start-stop technology, shutting down engines when not in use and utilizing ground power electricity over diesel when possible. Those strategies saved about 90,000 gallons of fuel;

• Amtrak installed more than 3,000 new light fixtures, including 1,400 replacements of fluorescent or early-generation LED lights. The switch reduces Amtrak's yearly GHG emissions output by roughly 500 metric tons; and

• Amtrak invested $2.3 billion in capital projects, restored or expanded service along 11 routes, hired more than 3,700 new employees, saw ridership rebound by 89% over the previous year and announced the modernized Airo trainsets — all of which is part of the railroad's goal to provide passenger-rail service to more people.