New Zealand's national rail operator, KiwiRail, has joined forces with TTG Transportation Technology to cut energy consumption and environmental emissions, while managing on-time running of trains, using TTG's Energymiser Driver Advisory System.
Following a successful trial, KiwiRail and TTG will rollout Energymiser across KiwiRail's freight trains – retrofitting up to 182 mainline diesel and electric locomotives.
TTG Transportation Technology is a provider of solutions to optimise energy efficiency, schedules and network capacity of passenger, freight and heavy haul rail; at both planning and operational stages.
Energymiser is a connected Driver Advisory System (C-DAS) providing real-time advice for train drivers to identify precise points where to coast, power and brake to conserve energy while helping ensure on-time running, and automatically adapting to actual conditions throughout each train trip.
Energymiser has achieved 14% to over 20% energy savings for high speed passenger and coal trains in the UK; and from 8.9% savings for iron ore trains in Africa; being over 2 km long and 20,000 tonnes; to 10% or more for freight trains in Australia, the UK and India.
The solution can also improve on-time running of trains and utilisation of rail capacity by interfacing with existing train scheduling systems to provide drivers real-time advice that regulates pacing between trains and critical timing points on the rail network throughout day of operation.
"Reducing our fuel usage benefits everyone," said Iain Hill, G.M. of KiwiRail Freight. Locomotive fuel is their second biggest operational cost behind labour costs.
"Rail is already recognised as the least energy intensive form of land transport. We are committed to a range of energy saving measures across the business to optimise that natural strength so we can deliver value to customers and the environment. C-DAS technology will help us reduce the carbon footprint of our customers' products and long distance passenger journeys, and manage on-time running," said Hill.