California Air Resources Board

Development of Approval Criteria for Zero Emission Switcher Locomotives

While switcher locomotives (switchers) play a critical role in ensuring efficient movement of freight throughout California and North America, they are also a source of oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter, and other harmful emissions, particularly in communities adjacent to major rail yards. California must transition to zero-emission switcher technology to meet its air quality, climate, and community health goals. CARB staff’s proposal to develop basic performance, reliability, durability, warranty, and other approval criteria for zero-emission switchers is intended to support market penetration of this critical technology and to facilitate eligibility determinations for incentive funding programs. These approval criteria are likely to be introduced as voluntary guidance.

CARB staff held a public work group meeting to discuss development of zero-emission switcher locomotive approval criteria. Details and materials from the meeting are below.

Locomotive Emission Verifications

CARB staff is responsible for issuing locomotive emission verifications to determine eligibility for CARB incentive funding programs such as Proposition 1B, Carl Moyer, and AB 118 - Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP).

Verification Procedures and Information

• CARB Verification Procedures (sections 2700 through 2711)
• U.S. EPA Locomotive Emission Certification List
• U.S. EPA Locomotive Emission Test Procedures - 40 CFR Parts 1033, 1065, and 1068

CARB Verified Locomotive Technologies Eligible for Incentive Funding

Current CARB-verified Tier 4 technologies include:

• Wabtec (ET23) Tier 4 Switch Locomotive
  • CARB Verification Letter (December 23, 2020)
• Siemens Charger Tier 4 Passenger Locomotive
  • CARB Verification Letter (October 1, 2020)
• Caterpillar/Progress Rail (EMD F125) Tier 4 Passenger Locomotive
  • CARB Verification Letter (September 1, 2020)
• Caterpillar/Progress Rail (EMD24) Tier 4 Switch Locomotive
  • CARB Verification Letter (May 30, 2019)
  • CARB Verification Letter (January 11, 2019)
• KLW Tier 4 Locomotives
  • Series 2000 Switcher: CARB Verification Letter
  • Series 4000 Locomotives: CARB Verification Letter
• GE Tier 4 Evolution Series Locomotive 
  • CARB Verification Letter 
• Caterpillar/Progress Rail (PR30) Tier 4 Medium Horsepower Locomotive 
  • CARB Verification Letter 
• NRE Tier 4 Genset Switch Locomotive
  • Final Report and Verification Letter 
• Pre-Tier 4 Verification Archive

Advanced Locomotive Technology Demonstrations

Current demonstrations include:

• Port of Los Angeles Zero-emission Switcher Locomotive (page 8 of the received applications)
• GE-BNSF Battery-Electric Locomotive (page 12 of the received applications)

Past demonstrations include:

• National Railway Equipment Company (NREC) Tier 4 genset switch locomotive 
• GT Exhaust (GTE) Tier 4 PM Genset Switch Locomotive
• Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) Tier 3+ Medium Horsepower Line Haul Locomotive 
• Johnson Matthey DPF retrofit on existing genset switch locomotive 
• Caterpillar/Progress Rail Tier 2 engine with Tier 4 repower
• Caterpillar/Progress Rail Tier 2 engine repower/retrofit to Tier 4 levels