OmniTRAX enters first battery-electric locomotive into revenue service

OmniTRAX’s Ohio-based Newburgh & South Shore Railroad (NSR) today entered the first battery-electric locomotive into revenue service in the United States. 

The AMPS Traction G9 locomotive operates at 1,700 gross horsepower and is designed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions while maintaining the reliability required for freight operations, OmniTRAX officials said in a press release.  

"This deployment reinforces our commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility," said Sergio Sabatini, president and chief operating officer of OmniTRAX. "We are proud to lead the way in bringing cutting-edge, sustainable solutions to freight rail, reducing emissions and delivering real-world benefits to the communities we serve." 

OmniTRAX received a grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Diesel Mitigation Trust Fund to pursue the project. The fund supports initiatives that improve air quality by reducing diesel emissions. OmniTRAX collaborated with the Federal Railroad Administration on the project.

The history-making NSR locomotive 1234 was dedicated to the memory of Steve Ward, OmniTRAX's longest-serving employee and former division engineer, who oversaw track safety and maintenance for 27 years until his death in 2021.