CPKC’s Hydrogen Locomotive Hits Key Testing Milestone

This milestone was achieved during tests conducted from 4-5 September, which involved hauling both loaded and empty bulk trains. During these tests, CP 1200 was accompanied by its dedicated fuel tender, CP 10001, and was integrated into a consist that included three diesel locomotives and 152 loaded gondolas.

The consist successfully transported a fully loaded bulk train from Sparwood, British Columbia, to Golden, British Columbia. The hydrogen locomotive then assisted in returning 152 empty gondolas back to Sparwood the following day.

Kyle Mulligan, Assistant Vice-President of Operations Technology at CPKC, expressed: “The first phase of testing was a complete success, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. Our team has worked tirelessly to reach this milestone, advancing our hydrogen locomotive programme and steering the industry towards a low-carbon future.”

The testing, conducted in collaboration with Glencore (formerly Teck Resources Limited), marks a critical step in validating the use of high-horsepower hydrogen locomotives for heavy freight operations.

The programme includes three testing phases, each designed to assess the locomotive’s reliability and optimise the technology for future use.