Alternative Fuel Technology

The primary fuels used for transportation throughout the World at the present time are refined from crude oil. Whilst it is perhaps too early to talk about an impending energy crisis, many energy analysts allude to the fact that we are fast approaching a peak in oil production.

Translink are taking a long-term view in their criteria for the design of the locomotives and this is backed up by a vast amount of technical knowledge in the design and manufacture of diesel prime movers.

The internal combustion engine is not restricted to operating on crude oil based fuels such as diesel and there has been considerable investment into the use of alternative fuels. Therefore, when the supply of diesel oil in its present form does start to decline, and it will, Translink will be in a position to switch to alternative fuels by adapting its locomotives to run on environmentally friendly fuel alternatives such as biodiesel, for example. This would fall within the Government's agenda to support the development of renewable low-carbon transport.

© Translink 2006