GE Transportation secured 225 orders in 2018 for locomotive modernizations and completed the first of 100 modernizations for Norfolk Southern. With the increased demand, GE’s one-million-square-foot facility in Fort Worth, TX is now the world’s largest locomotive modernization facility.

The modernization program updates aging locomotives — some more than 20 years old — with customized solutions that range from simple changes, including control system upgrades, to complex restorations, such as the comprehensive transformation of an aged DC locomotive into an AC locomotive outfitted with state-of-the-art digital technology.

“This rebuild program with GE Transportation aligns with Norfolk Southern’s strategic values for responsible stewardship of resources,” said Doug Corbin, assistant vice president – mechanical at Norfolk Southern. “It will modernize and improve our locomotive fleet, adding service life, increasing freight hauling capacity and enabling us to reduce capital spending requirements for new locomotives by efficiently refreshing our existing assets. Modernizations will most likely be a strong portion of our locomotive capital spending for a number of years.”

Modernizations also extends the service life of locomotives by approximately 20 years. GE Transportation customers have experienced substantial outcomes from the program, including up to 10% fuel efficiency gains, 40% increase in reliability and 50% increase in haulage ability.

Canadian Pacific had 30 modernized locomotives delivered in 2017 and an additional 80 are on order to be delivered in 2018.

“We’ve seen our modernization program grow 20 times since 2015,” said Pascal Schweitzer, vice president, services of GE Transportation. “Over the last decade, GE has transformed more than 2,000 locomotives for customers worldwide, including for the majority of the Class 1 Railroads in North America as well as international customers. The outcomes that these modernizations offer to our customers creates the ability to realize significantly more value out of existing locomotive assets, which has been game-changing.”