WASHINGTON, D.C., – Sept. 27, 2011 – The Railroad Research Foundation (RRF) and the Kansas City Southern Railroad (KCS) announced today they have been awarded a National Clean Diesel Campaign (NCDC) grant to conduct a research project designed to reduce emissions from diesel engines in rail yards in and around Shreveport, La. Based on EPA’s estimates, the public benefits of this project – mainly improved air quality – are estimated at $8.7 million.

The RRF project allows for the installation of EPA-verified idle reduction technology to reduce unnecessary idling of the main drive engine of diesel locomotives. The project targets 40 switcher locomotives that operate in railroad yards in and around Shreveport. EPA funding covers 50 percent of the cost of labor and equipment and KCS is providing the remaining labor and equipment costs.

This project will reduce engine idle time anywhere from an estimated 50 percent to as much as 90 percent depending on locomotive usage patterns. This reduction in idling will conserve diesel fuel and decrease emissions. NCDC was established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce exhaust emissions from new and existing diesel engines.

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About the Railroad Research Foundation and the Kansas City Southern Railroad:

The Railroad Research Foundation (RRF) was incorporated in 1999. The foundation was established to become a world-class policy research organization devoted to sustaining a safe, secure, technology and marketplace driven railroad industry.

Current research efforts focus on safety, security, technology, efficiency and environmentally friendly passenger and freight rail operations. The RRF results are expected to improve rail infrastructure and operations and advance the state of the art in areas such as train control, wireless communications, suicide prevention, security and highway grade crossings. The systems and tools developed through RRF projects are intended to be interoperable throughout the industry.

The Kansas City Southern (KCS) is an international transportation holding company that is 123 years old. KCS provides services to a wide variety of shippers, from the local farmer to major manufacturers around the world, with competitive and reliable transportation solutions to and from burgeoning markets throughout North America.

About the Association of American Railroads

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is the world's leading railroad policy, research and technology organization focusing on the safety and productivity of rail carriers. AAR members include the major freight railroads of the U.S., Canada and Mexico, as well as Amtrak. Learn more at www.aar.org. Follow us on Twitter: AAR_FreightRail or Facebook: www.facebook.com/freightrail.

For More Information Contact:

Sharon Stewart Cole, Ph.D.
Sr. Program Director
Railroad Research Foundation
425 3^rd Street, SW, Suite 910
Washington, DC 20024
202-639-2115
Web site: www.railroadresearch.org