The purchase of ten electric locomotives from Wabtec, Union Pacific railroad has followed up by purchasing another ten from Progress Rail, a Caterpillar Inc. company. Union Pacific’s combined electric locomotive purchases and upgrades to its rail yard infrastructure are expected to exceed $100 million, making it the largest investment in battery-electric technology by a US Class I railroad.

Union Pacific Railroad ($UNP) is one of the largest and longest-tenured railroads in North America, having been founded in 1862. It currently operates over 8,000 locomotives across 23 of the Western United States. [1]

Figure 1. Union Pacific buys ten more all-electric locomotives, this time from Caterpillar Inc.’s Progress Rail

Figure 1 shows The EMD Joule electric locomotives purchased from Progress Rail are classified as shunters. The mass of the EMD Joule electric locomotive is 118.1 tons. The battery capacity can be from 1.9 to 2.4 MWh. Rated power – up to 3000 hp, and operating time without recharging – up to 24 hours, depending on the load. As in the case of the Wabtec FLXDrive, recharging is provided when braking.

As we have already reported, Wabtec plans to start shipping FLXDrive locomotives at the end of 2023. Progress Rail intends to adhere to the same deadline, and it intends to deliver all ten electric locomotives by the beginning of 2024. [2]

Union Pacific embraces electric with $100 million investment

The news of the second electric locomotive purchase was released by Union Pacific, outlining the railroad’s investment in battery freight technology for a zero-emission future.

Between the purchase of twenty new locomotives from Wabtec and Progress Rail, plus upgrades to its rail yards to support electric locomotives, Union Pacific revealed it will be spending over $100 million.

When all ordered trains are delivered, Union Pacific expects to have the largest carrier-owned, battery-electric locomotive fleet in the world.

According to Union Pacific, the twenty electric locomotives will be used in rail yards in California and Nebraska, where they will be tested for performance in both cold and warm weather. This will help the railroad identify each locomotives’ capabilities and challenges before progressing to broader deployment. [3]

References:

1. https://electrek.co/2022/01/31/union-pacific-buys-ten-more-all-electric-locomotives-this-time-from-caterpillar-inc-s-progress-rail-investing-over-100-million-in-total/
2. https://digitnews.in/union-pacific-buys-ten-more-all-electric-locomotives/
3. https://www.newzsite.in/union-pacific-buys-ten-more-all-electric-locomotives-this-time-from-caterpillar-inc-s-progress-rail-investing-over-100-million-in-total/

Cite this article:

Thanusri swetha J (2022), Union Pacific buys ten more all-electric locomotives, this time from Caterpillar Inc.’s Progress Rail, pp. 114