Russia intends to accelerate the transfer of locomotives to gas engine fuel in the next ten years. According to the draft Concept for the Development of the Gas Engine Fuel Market until 2035, it is planned to increase the fleet of gas locomotives to 149 units by the specified date.
Currently, 13.7 thousand locomotives are operated on the railway network, of which about half have been in operation for more than 20 years.
The serial production of locomotives using liquefied natural gas (methane) as motor fuel will reduce the cost of operating traction rolling stock due to the lower price of gas motor fuel, increase the technical readiness factor of equipment, improve the environmental situation in regions with large marshalling yards and industrial organizations with a large volume of railway transportation and increase the consumption of natural gas within the country.
To implement ambitious plans, the development of domestic gas engines with a capacity of 500 to 3,500 kW is envisaged, as well as the creation of a network of refueling points for liquefied natural gas (LNG) along railway lines.
The concept envisages the introduction of state subsidies for part of the costs of converting locomotives. This will not only update the rolling stock fleet, but also reduce the environmental burden.
Earlier www1.ru reported that the production of hydrogen drives for rolling stock will be mastered in Russia.
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