Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has had an excessive amount of diesel trains idling. Trains are only allowed to be idling for thirty minutes. In 2008, MBTA had thirty-three violations. As a result, they will be forced to pay a $225,000 fine. Furthermore, because of federal laws and regulations, they will have to spend two million dollars to reduce emissions. One million will be spent on anti-idling equipment, while the other million will be spent on ultra-clean diesel fuel for all trains in the commuter rail system for two years.The money will be spent to put an electric plug-in at the end of every station to supply all commuter locomotives with electric auxiliary power to prevent excess idling during train layovers. Also, trains will only be allowed to have layovers at these locations with correct electric plug-ins.
In the long run, MBTA will have to replace the trains’ engines with cleaner, more efficient engines. All of these changes are aimed at reducing air pollution. A reduction in commuter locomotive idling coupled with more efficient equipment could result in massive yearly carbon dioxide emission reductions. The EPA estimates reductions of 800 tons of CO2, nitrogen oxides reductions of nearly 170 tons, carbon monoxide reductions of about 80 tons, particulate reductions of 23 tons, and sulfur dioxide reductions of 1-2 tons. Reducing concentrations of these chemicals can help improve air quality, which will benefit all plant and animal species, including humans.
story from: EPA
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