WAB Wabtec Corp

By Chris Wack

Wabtec Corp. said it has entered into an additional multiyear order from Norfolk Southern Corp. to modernize 330 locomotives as part of its continued partnership.

The company said the deal is part of Norfolk Southern's ongoing efforts to further improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions from its fleet.

With each modernized locomotive, Norfolk Southern's carbon emissions are reduced by more than 500 tons per year. The deal marks the third major modernization order from the railroad since 2015, making it the largest modernized fleet in North America, with more than 950 locomotives upon completion in 2025.

Norfolk Southern said the new deal will help it achieve its target of a 42% reduction in emissions intensity by 2034. Wabtec's proven modernization program allows it to maximize the value of its locomotives, minimize the use of new materials, and reduce the environmental impact of its operations.

Wabtec will modernize D9-44CW locomotives that are more than 20 years old and transform them into AC44C6Ms, which will add another 20 years of incremental life to each locomotive. The modernizations will yield significant dividends per locomotive, including fuel efficiency improved by as much as 25%; a more than 40% increase in reliability; haulage ability increased by up to 55%; and a reduction of maintenance, repair, and overhaul expenses by 20%.

To date, Wabtec said it has delivered more than 1,100 modernized locomotives in the Americas. The fuel efficiency benefits of these locomotives have reduced carbon emissions by more than 1.4 million tons since 2015. That reduction is the equivalent of removing the emissions from 340,000 cars.

Write to Chris Wack at chris.wack@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 23, 2022 08:35 ET (12:35 GMT)

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