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New York Air Brake Corp. (NYAB) and Invensys Rail Corp. recently agreed to collaborate to offer locomotive systems that combine NYAB’s Locomotive Engineer Assist/Display Event Recorder (LEADER) and Invensys’ Locomotive Fuel Optimizer (LFO).

The combined systems can optimize fuel economy and train handling in multiple-unit locomotive consists, according to the companies. LEADER is designed to prompt engineers to apply optimal throttle and brake settings for a given train consist and track profile. LFO is designed to make individual throttle adjustments among locomotives in a consist to optimize fuel efficiency based on total power demand.

Currently in operation on several Class Is, LEADER provides fuel savings ranging from 8 percent to 12 percent, NYAB officials said in a prepared statement; LFO has delivered average fuel savings of 3 percent to 4 percent during tests, Invensys officials said.

The combined system will be compatible with all EMD and GE locomotive models, feature automatic calibration, and work with dynamic brakes and positive train control.