FEC buys energy-efficient locomotives

FEC buys energy-efficient locomotives RailAmerica Inc., a leading operator of short-line and regional railroads, and Florida East Coast Railway, a regional freight railroad operating along Florida's East Coast, have purchased four new energy-efficient locomotives from Electro-Motive Diesel Inc. at a cost of $8 million.
   The new SD70M-2 locomotives meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s tier-two emission standards and are 20 percent more fuel efficient than the type SD40-2 locomotives they will replace. Two of the new 4300-horsepower locomotives can do the same work as three of the older locomotives; thus, the four new SD70M-2s will replace six of the SD40-2s.

RailAmerica and FEC have purchased four of the new Electro-Motive Diesel locomotives.

   “These locomotives are significant long-term investments for FEC and RailAmerica,” said John Giles, RailAmerica’s chief executive officer. “We are strongly committed to investing in this business while also contributing to environmental initiatives. In addition to improved fuel economy and lower emissions, these locomotives feature better controls, improved communication systems and more pulling power.”
   Both FEC and RailAmerica are headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., and owned by private-equity funds managed by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group. In the near future, Fortress plans to formally integrate the two companies.