Cummins Powers Train Running in B20 Biodiesel Trial Program

July 16, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS

The Virgin Voyager train left London Euston Station on scheduled passenger service to begin evaluating the use of biodiesel in high-speed rail applications.

The train is powered by four Cummins QSK19 underfloor diesel engines, one in each car, with total installed power of 3,000 hp (2,238 kW).

"Cummins UK is providing technical support to the B20 biodiesel trial program, and we are excited to be working with Virgin Rail Group and the train manufacturer Bombardier Transportation, to bring more environmentally friendly solutions to the transport industry," said Chris Truman, general manager of Cummins U.K. rail business.

"The trial programme will be seen as a significant step forward to encourage greater understanding of how renewable fuel can be [used]," he said.

According to Cummins, using 20% biodiesel in the Virgin Voyager trial programs will further reduce the carbon footprint of the train.

Compared with equivalent passenger numbers traveling by car or domestic flights, the Virgin Voyager trains offer substantially lower carbon dioxide (CO2) greenhouse gas emissions, Cummins said.

The Virgin Voyager evaluation program is targeted at determining the suitability of biodiesel fuel characteristics for intensive train operations. Greenergy produced the B20 fuel for rail applications as a mixture of 20% B100 (pure biodiesel) and 80% ultra-low sulphur diesel (ULSD).

Source: Cummins Inc.