Today's rail operating environment depends on the reliability and efficiency of Diesel engines. Modern engines may be sufficient in keeping your fleet running, but fuel is rarely up to the same standard. The poor quality of fuel will soon compromise your fleet reliability if it hasn't already. Environmental legislation is also adding a new factor to your fleet reliability. The introduction of fuels with increasingly higher proportions of biologically sourced material are creating problems for the day-to-day operations of railfleet owners. Poor combustion, fuelflow problems, fouled injectors, engine wear, and storage tank corrosion are just some of the issues the your fleet will face.

Existing Fuel Supplies

Existing diesel supplies have remained unchanged for many years. The only major factors for fuel users have been engine efficiency and fuel contamination issues. The expected reduction in fuel supply ('peak oil'), increased demand, environmental factors and lower refining cost margins are leading to a degradation in fuel quality.

Low Sulphur Diesel

"EU Directive 2009/30/EC introduces a requirement that, from 1st January 2011, all gas oil for use in "non-road mobile machinery (NRMM)", must contain no more than 10 mg of sulphur/kg (virtually 'sulphur free'). In the case of gas oil for use in railway vehicles the introduction of sulphur free gas oil will be one year later (1st January 2012)." UK Department for Transport.

Biodiesel Blends

The FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester) standard success has meant a rise in the proportion of biofuels in today's fuel supplies. Biodiesel blends of B2, B5, B10, B20 & B100 have all been tested to varying degrees of success in modern engines, but the fuel brings longer term problems.