UP: Third Consecutive Year of Fuel-Efficiency Gains

UP reports that in 2021, it added more than 11 million gallons to fuel saved.

Union Pacific (UP) is utilizing technology and mobilizing its workforce to reduce fuel consumption and its carbon footprint.

The effort paid off again in 2021, as UP reduced its overall fuel consumption for the third year in a row and helped its customers eliminate an estimated 22.9 million metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by choosing rail over truck. It added more than 11 million gallons to fuel saved.

“Union Pacific is committed to moving the needle steadily each year toward a more sustainable future; fuel efficiency is an important part of this journey,” said Maqui Parkerson, Assistant Vice President-Labor Relations and Sustainability, Workforce Resources. “In addition to reducing our environmental footprint by improving our fuel consumption, we are demonstrating to our customers and the communities in which we operate, the environmental advantages inherent in using rail versus truck.”

In 2021, UP’s fuel consumption rate—measured in gallons of fuel per thousand gross ton-miles—improved 1%, its best-ever performance. On average, rail consumes three to four times less fuel than moving the same freight on the highway.

The record comes as UP started 2022, taking significant steps to advance its ESG goals, including purchasing the world’s largest carrier-owned fleet of battery-electric locomotives for testing in yard operations, with first deliveries in late 2023. It also released its Climate Action Plan in late December that outlined its commitment to pursue net-zero emissions by 2050.

The Class I railroad’s fuel-efficiency gains can be attributed to numerous operational and technological advancements, including identifying ways to reduce idling engines and ensuring that the optimal horsepower is used to haul freight.

Another key element is expanding and improving the use of Energy Management Systems (EMS) on nearly 2,900 locomotives in the UP’s fleet. (EMS allows the throttle and the dynamic brake system to be controlled automatically.)

“EMS has details for all cars and locomotives within a train, track grade profile, and wayside signal status from Positive Train Control (PTC),” said Zack Wavra, Director-Operating Technologies, Engineering. “It incorporates all this information—modeling the physics of the train—to run it as efficiently as possible.”

UP began installing the original EMS prototype in 2011. Today, the system has been refined and improved, with more train crews using the system sooner and longer on individual train trips.

The goal is to finish installing the system in all of UP’s high-horsepower locomotive fleet by 2024.

The railroad is also working to improve and refine the system. Currently, EMS is only used after a train reaches a minimum speed. “We are working to develop and expand EMS, so that it can be used to automatically start and stop a train throughout a trip,” Wavra said.

UP’s fuel conservation team also utilizes horsepower optimization to increase fuel efficiency. For example, if during a portion of a trip, one of three locomotives is not needed, the crew can isolate locomotives to ensure the proper horsepower is being utilized.

In addition to right-sizing trains, the railroad is ensuring that locomotive power is strategically placed in a train to achieve more efficiencies.

“It not only makes it more fuel efficient to spread the power out on a train, it can make it safer,” said Srini Nedunoori, Principal Engineer-Technology.

UP’s fuel-efficiency efforts were enhanced by its adoption of precision-scheduled railroading (PSR), which allowed it to improve asset utilization by running longer trains.

Employee engagement is also a big part of UP’s environmental efforts. With time and training, more employees are understanding the value of utilizing the technology and embracing the efforts to improve the railroad’s environmental footprint and achieve its ESG goals.

UP is finding ways to recognize these efforts. For example, it recently started a Fuel Wrangler award program that honors the top locomotive engineers on each service unit who utilize EMS for every available mile.

“I recently delivered a trophy to the Mechanical team out of Global IV in Chicago, Ill., that found ways to prioritize the use of EMS on trains departing their yard,” said Jordan Shinn, Senior Manager-Fuel Conservation, Harriman Dispatching Center. “We were all excited; it was well-deserved.

“There will be a day when we are solely utilizing alternative forms of energy to move freight, but until that day is here, it is our job to utilize the fuel saving technologies available to us and promote best practices through standard work focused on reducing fuel consumption.”

This article was originally published in the Inside Track section of the UP website.