The TRAXX DE Multi-Engine Diesel Locomotive

This article will discuss how the introduction of stricter emission standards for diesel vehicles will improve the environmental sustainability of rail transportation and the railway industry is up to the challenge because of innovative technologies. Maintaining the high degree of largely interchangeable TRAXX locomotive components has been kept in the forefront when making adaptations to meet the applicable emissions standards. With the introduction of the new European Union (EU) IIIB emissions levels, the constraints for diesel locomotives were stringently tightened and therefore Bombardier Transportation developed a multi-engine concept where four independently controlled diesel engine/alternator units are integrated into the machine room. The article describes how the TRAXX DE ME (ME = multi-engine) locomotive equipped with this technology continues to match the well-know TRAXX diesel locomotive in concept, construction and operation.