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9/26/2023



Rail News: Rail Industry Trends

Canada's railways mark progress in emissions reduction efforts


RAC President and CEO Marc Brazeau
Photo – Railway Association of Canada

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The Railway Association of Canada's latest Locomotive Emissions Monitoring (LEM) report confirms that greenhouse-gas (GHG) emission intensities improved across all railway operations, the association announced yesterday.

In 2021, the latest year available for LEM data, GHG emissions intensity for freight-rail traffic decreased 1.2%. Total freight-rail GHG emissions intensity has fallen 25.9% since 2005 while traffic rose 25.5% in that same period, RAC officials said in a news release.

Meanwhile, intercity passenger railroads in 2021 improved their GHG emissions intensity by 18%, while regionals and short lines improve their intensity by 4%.

"Rail is green technology — it is by far the most sustainable and fuel-efficient way of getting goods and people across land, and Canada’s railways are continually innovating," said RAC President and CEO Marc Brazeau. "Railroaders are committed to ensuring a sustainable future for all Canadians while serving as a backbone of our economy."

In 2021, railroads spent CA$2.3 billion on their Canadian networks and helped lower their emissions through investments in fleet renewal/modernization, fuel saving technologies, operational efficiencies and the use of low-carbon fuels.