Recent reports from CSX and Norfolk Southern detail their attempts to meet a variety of sustainability objectives. Here’s what they had to say:
Norfolk Southern mentions accomplishments in GHG emission reduction and recycling.
According to its 2022 sustainability report, which outlines the company’s efforts in 2021, NS (NYSE: NSC) is making progress toward its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. By 2034, the railroad hopes to lower the intensity of scope 1 and scope 2 GHG emissions by 42%.
Scope 1 emissions are those that come from sources controlled or owned by an organization, such as locomotive fuel combustion, whereas scope 2 emissions are indirect and occur at the organization’s facilities, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. They are concerned with emissions resulting from the purchase of electricity, as well as heating and cooling.
Among the measures made by NS to reduce emissions are:
- Since 2016, more than 100 locomotives have been modernized each year. By 2025, NS hopes to have modernized 950 locomotives.
- 93% of its operational locomotive fleet, or 1,550 road locomotives, will be outfitted with energy-management systems.
- 120 more locomotives will have distributed power systems installed. According to Union Pacific, distributed power means that locomotives are situated in the middle and at the ends of trains rather than only at the front, which decreases the physical forces on the train (NYSE: UNP).
- Data is being used to detect and reduce over 2,000 hours of idle per day. According to NS, this saves more than 2.6 million gallons of fuel every year.
- Biofuel blends are being used to minimize carbon intensity.
Since 2019, NS has improved locomotive fuel economy by 7%.
In 2021, NS said it would divert more than half of its waste from landfills, reclaim over 1.6 million gallons of used oil, track and manage more than 4,500 waste and recycling events from service providers, recycle 100% of the rail it replaces, with 70% of NS’ new rail manufactured from recycled material, and recycle 100% of old cross ties and 100% of steel.
Other sustainability-related initiatives in 2021 and 2022 include the release of a next-generation carbon calculator that allows users to calculate the carbon footprint of a shipment and a collaboration with U.S. Steel and railcar manufacturer Greenbrier (NYSE: GBX) to develop a more sustainable gondola rail car.
NS covers a total of 19,300 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia.
CSX: Reducing emissions through operational changes, technology, and alternate power sources
According to its sustainability report, CSX (NASDAQ: CSX) “has been tirelessly working” to reduce GHG emissions intensity by 37.3% by 2030, using 2014 as an emissions baseline.
From 2014 to 2021, CSX lowered emissions intensity by 15.6%, putting it 42% of the way toward the 2030 target.
Between 2014 and 2021, CSX increased fuel economy by 15.34%. CSX also stated that it is researching new locomotive fuel conservation technologies and generating operating improvements. In addition, CSX is testing hybrid locomotives as well as the usage of biofuels like as B20 and possibly liquefied natural gas in its operations.
CSX is developing an idea that would use compressed natural gas to power a generator, which would then power locomotives. Meanwhile, according to CSX, a “Meet Pass Planner” tool promises to improve train fluidity by minimizing train meet-and-pass delays while optimizing train routing and performance.
CSX presented five areas that explain emission reductions and waste management objectives.
It is carrying out its initiative to lower the intensity of GHG emissions by 37.3% through network and operational enhancements as well as technology investments.
Since 2014, it has reduced scope 1 and scope 2 emissions by 15.6% through fuel efficiency improvements and pilot initiatives targeted at utilizing alternative fuels, as well as engine advancements to minimize fuel burn and overall emissions from locomotives.
Another aim is for CSX to use renewable energy to power 50% of its scope 2 footprint, which will be accomplished through energy audits, energy efficiency retrofits, renewable energy usage, and collaborations. CSX has gone into community solar agreements, purchased renewable energy credits, and is looking for appropriate power purchase agreements that encourage sustainability.
CSX is reevaluating buying methods and identifying waste streams for possible reuse or recycling, among other activities, to reduce hazardous waste from continuing operations by 30% and landfill waste to less than 10% of volume.
Last year’s initiatives toward this aim included attempts to recycle railroad ties and undertake terminal cleanups all year.
Another objective is to collaborate with other supply chain partners to assess shared sustainability risks and possibilities.
CSX claims that its customers saved 11 million metric tons of CO2 emissions by using the railroad.
A number of new sustainability-related initiatives were launched last year, including the One-CSX culture effort, which looked at each employee’s unique value and role in fulfilling company objectives, as well as a supplier engagement program.
CSX runs roughly 19,500 route miles in 23 states and the District of Columbia, as well as in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. CSX’s network will expand to 21,000 route miles across 26 states after acquiring the network of short-line operator Pan Am Systems earlier this year.
