Class 66 locomotive powered by vegetable oil displayed at Glasgow Central

Scotlands Climate week 2021 is underway and Glasgow Central welcomed DB Cargo’s Class 66 ‘I am a Climate Hero’ locomotive at the station.

The environmentally friendly locomotive is fuelled by hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO) and is the latest step forward in creating cleaner and greener freight trains.

HVO is synthetically made using a hydro-treatment process from waste vegetable oils or animal fats, which has a serious impact on reducing carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions when used in vehicles and machinery that usually run on diesel. Tests are already finding that HVO can create reductions in emissions of up to 90% and is marketed as ‘one of the world’s purest and greenest fuels’.

The train was displayed for all to see on Wednesday the 15th of September on platform 11 in a bid to increase awareness of the environmental advantages of a modal shift to rail. The Climate Week is intended to provide encouragement to bring further support in the form of action to help Scotland meet its net zero carbon emissions by 2045.

Moving goods from road to rail brings enormous environmental benefits already, and also as freight trains replace millions of lorry journeys in Scotland each year.

DB Cargo UK has one of the largest Scottish rail freight terminals at Mossend in North Lanarkshire and is multiplying the benefits of moving road freight to rail by utilising HVO.

Transport Minister Graeme Dey said: “I’m pleased the Climate Hero Locomotive has arrived in Glasgow Central Station during the Scottish Government’s Climate Week to help highlight our vision for future rail freight. We want to see a competitive rail freight sector playing an increasing role in Scotland’s ambition for a net zero, sustainable, inclusive economy by providing a safer, greener and more efficient way of transporting products and materials.

“Considerable work has been undertaken by public and private sector partners since the publication of our Rail Freight Strategy in 2016 to support and promote sustainable rail freight growth in Scotland. The rolling programme of efficient electrification supports the key role that rail freight has to play in helping to achieve our climate change objectives and it is encouraging to see that the rail industry is also taking forward decarbonisation measures.

“DB Cargo has led the way through the conversion of a Class 66 Loco to run on Hydro-treated Vegetable Oil (HVO). Sustainably-sourced lower carbon alternative fuels and private sector innovation will be key to some areas of transport decarbonisation over future years and progress is moving at pace. I welcome DB Cargo’s commitment to this agenda and will continue to work with other potential partners to get more involved in creating a low carbon, successful rail freight sector for Scotland.”

Alex Hynes, managing director of Scotland’s Railway said: “DB Cargo is providing a fantastic opportunity for anyone to learn more about the work being delivered by rail freight companies as they build upon the sector’s unrivalled green credentials.

“The environmental benefits of rail freight are substantial – a freight train emits just a quarter of the carbon dioxide of the equivalent road journey. We want to start conversations with Scottish Businesses on how they can act now to decarbonise their supply chains through modal shift to rail.

“If just 10% of Scotland’s HGV movements were switched to rail it would reduce almost as much annual CO2e as the entire rail industry emits. Rail freight has a significant role to play in the decarbonisation of the transport networks in Scotland.”

Andrea Rossi, Chief Executive of DB Cargo UK said: “We are proud to be playing our part in Scotland’s Climate Change Week and demonstrating our innovative approach to reducing not just our own carbon footprint, but those of our customers.

“Harnessing sustainable sources of energy like this will help us to achieve our bold and ambitious vision for a net zero carbon transport system in Scotland by 2045.”

Did you see the loco at Glasgow station? Why not share your pictures on our community page here.

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