Diesel Traction
Despite the high percentage of electrified rail traffic in Europe, diesel traction has an important role to play for the development of rail transport not only in those countries with a lesser rate of electrification of their lines. Diesel traction ensures shunting operations and freight and passenger transport on secondary or unelectrified lines. For many operations diesel traction proves more versatile, as cross-border traffic is facilitated and it is possible to go along both, electrified and non-electrified lines.
The NOx and particulates emissions of diesel locomotives and diesel multiple units (DMUs) are governed by the engine directive for Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM) 97/68/EC. A further emission stage (IIIB) is foreseen to enter into force in 2012. While the rail industry is wholly committed to meeting this target, important obstacles lie ahead for the integration of such engines by this date. In order to reach this goal, UNIFE has launched the EU-funded CleanER-D research project that aims to develop compliant vehicles.
In the meantime, UNIFE is advocating intermediary measures that allow for the integration of the engines in a sustainable and reliable manner.
For more information, please contact:
Nike Bonnen
Public Affairs Manager
+32 2 626 12 69
UNIFE Links
To access UNIFE's position paper on Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM, 08.07.2009) please click here
To access UNIFE’s press release on CleanER-D please click here
External Links
To access the EC’s directives on emissions from non-road mobile machinery please click here
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