Short line wins

Davis, Calif.-based California Northern Railroad Co.,  serving the Sacramento Valley, said Wednesday it has been honored by Breathe California, an organization dedicated to fighting lung disease and advocating for clean air, with the 2011 Clean Air Champion Business Award. CFNR was recognized for being an industry model by reducing emission and noise along their short line railroad routes.

“CFNR is blazing the trail to ‘get smart’ and operate energy-efficient locomotives,” said Kori Titus, CEO of Breathe California of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails. “This railroad’s technological breakthroughs have significantly improved the air of our surrounding communities.”

CFNR, a subsidiary of Jacksonville, Fla.-based RailAmerica, says its locomotive fleet has been converted with the addition of six (6) GenSet locomotives, which have helped to reduce emissions by 80% and are expected to reduce fuel consumption by up to 20%. This equals a reduction of up to 860 tons of emissions for each locomotive over a 20-year period. CNFR also says it has earned a Tier 3 non-road emission standard by the Environmental Protection Agency.

“On behalf employees of CFNR, I thank Breathe California for this honor,” said Don Seil, formerly CFNR general manager and now regional vice president of RailAmerica‘s Southeast Region. “We are hopeful that this investment will lead the way in setting an example for other railroads to follow in California and across North America.”