Progress Rail to convert locomotive to battery power for Australia’s Aurizon

Successful conversion of diesel unit could be first of many for country's largest freight rail operator

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REDBANK, Queensland — Australia's largest freight rail company, Aurizon, has contracted with Progress Rail to build what the companies are calling the first zero-emission-capable freight locomotive to be constructed in Australia, a battery-electric unit.

Progress Rail will retrofit one of Aurizon's existing 4000-class diesel locomotives, Clyde Engineering units built by Walkers, at the Progress Rail facility in Redbank. The unit, currently powered by EMD 710 diesel engines, is one of more than 120 such narrow-gauge C-C locomotives built between 2000 and 2005. (More information on the locomotives is available here.) The companies say a successful conversion could provide a faster and less expensive path to decarbonization using fully recycled assets.

Aurizon Managing Director & CEO Andrew Harding said in a press release that the project sits at the heart of Aurizon's decarbonization initiatives with a target of achieving net-zero operational emissions by 2050.

"Modern freight locomotives using renewable energy sources have the potential to transform the nation's freight supply chains for customers, communities and the Australian economy," Harding said. "Not only will this dramatically reduce the carbon footprint for our freight transport needs and the community in general, but it will also provide a significant competitive advantage for Australian industries and exporters in global markets."

Colin Kerelchuk, senior vice president at Progress Rail, said the project "leverages our worldwide capabilities, while heavily relying on our expert workforce in Australia. We will deliver this EMD Joule out of our Redbank, Queensland facility, where we have recently secured a long-term lease extension to continue operations through 2034."

Aurizon has also commissioned the University of Queensland and Central Queensland University to undertake modeling work and research on battery technology, network infrastructure, and charging facilities required for the locomotive batteries.

Construction is expected to be complete early in 2025, with on-track testing beginning in the first half of that year.

Several Australian mining companies have previously ordered battery locomotives, but those units have been built in the United States or Brazil [see "Australia's BHP to buy battery-electrics …," Trains News Wire, Jan 17, 2022].