Union Pearson Express, powered by Cummins

With the launch of Union Pearson Express (UPE) connecting Lester B. Pearson International Airport to Toronto Union Station on June 6, the Cummins QSK19-R becomes the first railcar diesel engine produced in North America certified to meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Tier 4 Final emissions regulations.

Cummins and Nippon Sharyo partnered to supply 18 diesel multiple-units (DMUs) to UPE. “Visible to passengers are custom seats, power outlets and Wi-Fi connectivity,” says Cummins General Manager-Global Rail and Defense Business Melina Kennedy. “Underneath the well-appointed cars, our QSK19-R brings fast torque response, smooth power delivery and quiet operation, all while meeting the most stringent emissions regulations in the world. We are all about partnering to help our customers succeed, and we’re pleased that our ultra-clean diesel technology is seen as a way to help move people more efficiently while significantly reducing emissions and improving the environment.”

Cummins describes the QSK19-R as “designed specifically for the railcar market. Its horizontal packaging makes it the engine of choice for DMUs around the world. With more 1,700 units currently operating regionally in Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia and China, among other countries, the QSK19-R builds on a platform with a long history of dependable service. Rated at 760 hp (567 kW), it utilizes the Cummins Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) aftertreatment system. Designed and manufactured by Cummins, the SCR system allows the optimization of engine combustion to improve fuel efficiency while meeting near-zero emissions levels. While Toronto’s UP Express is the first North American system to utilize our ultra-low-emissions technology, several other projects are in the works. The QSK19-R will power 14 Nippon Sharyo railcars destined for the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) system north of San Francisco, which will expand rail service between Santa Rosa and San Rafael, Calif.”

An operating division of Metrolinx, the regional transportation agency, UP Express was launched in time to welcome visitors to the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games. The line connects two of Canada’s busiest transportation hubs, converting a time-consuming and often expensive commute on traffic-congested roads to a 25-minute rail trip. When the service is fully implemented, UPE is expected to remove the equivalent of more than one million vehicles annually in and around Canada’s largest city.