GreenFleet

East Midlands Trains DiesoLIFTTM 10 fuel additive trial has demonstrated a 4.4 per cent improvement in fuel economy.

The fuel technology trial was the first of its kind in the UK rail industry and was designed to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions and run even greener trains.

Working in partnership with International Fuel Technology, Inc, the trial estimated to save nearly 350,000 litres of fuel per year and the reduction in carbon emissions is equivalent to taking 350 cars off the road.

The trial has been running since August 2009 and involves 89 vehicles comprising Class 153, Class 156 and Class 158 trains, which are used to operate services on East Midlands Trains local routes.

The DiesoLIFTTM 10 additive is being automatically mixed in with the diesel used to re-fuel trains at Nottingham maintenance depot, where almost three quarters of the trains used to operate East Midlands Trains local services are fuelled overnight. The liquid additive, which is completely bio-degradable, is splash blended with the fuel using technology provided by IFT.

The DiesoLIFTTM 10 trial will continue until November 2010, when East Midlands Trains will then look to roll out the product to the rest of its fleet, including HSTs and Meridians operating on the London services.

This initiative is part of Stagecoach Group's carbon reduction plan, which is targeting a 3 per cent reduction in fleet emissions and an 8 per cent cut in carbon emissions from buildings.

Matt Browne, Head of Environment for East Midlands Trains, said: "We are extremely pleased to be the first train operator taking part in this in-service field trial with IFT."

"Trains are already one of the most environmentally friendly forms of transport, and use of DiesoLiFTTM 10 is helping us to make our trains even greener."

Further information:
Stagecoach Group