ZTR wins SmartStart® contract in Germany

The contract calls for systems that are EN50155 certified, as required by European railway standards. The contract was signed at InnoTrans 2014. Installation on DB Schenker’s BR294 switcher locomotive fleet is under way and is expected to be concluded in early 2015.

“With the cost of fuel continually on the rise, railways are increasingly looking to improve fuel consumption,” said ZTR. “SmartStart® AESS systems do just that by reducing locomotive idling, reducing fuel consumption and emissions. ZTR is excited to be working with such a world-class company as DB Schenker Rail. Smartstart® will manage and reduce idle time for DBSR, leading to significant fuel savings and other operational benefits. The deal between the our companies is just another example of how ZTR, the industry leader in AESS systems, has been helping to reduce environmental impact of locomotives for more than 20 years. Not only does SmartStart® provide reporting to document emissions reduction; it actually records fuel savings (gallons/liters of fuel) while it is working. Take, for example, oner Class I railroad which has saved 264,225 gallons of fuel on one locomotive since implementing SmartStart® in 1994—that’s more than 16,000 gallons of fuel saved each year. With more than 7,000 installations, SmartStart can be applied to just about any locomotive—from relay logic to microprocessor—regardless of manufacturer, model, age, or usage.”

According to Matthew Scott, General Manager at ZTR Control Systems, “ZTR is excited to be working with such a world-class company as DB Schenker Rail. Smartstart® will manage and reduce idle time for DBSR, leading to significant fuel savings and other operational benefits.”