All train service on these tracks is powered by diesel locomotives. Amtrak's operations are highly dependent on fossil fuels. Train operations account for 82% of Amtrak's carbon footprint and of that percentage; 65% is attributed to diesel fuel.
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Did you know that Amtrak trains running along the Northeast and Keystone corridors are powered by an overhead wire system called a catenary system? The catenary system provides electrical power to these trains, allowing them to move quickly up and down the corridor.
Their speed, however, will be limited by the complexities of the 457-mile route, which is old, curvy and carries a mix of freight, commuter and intercity trains. Most Amtrak trains travel between 110 mph to 145 mph in the corridor, depending on the track and proximity to stations.
Amtrak's 60 Hz electrification distributes power using ±25 kV from ground via a center tap of the 115/50 kV transformers. This system is also known as 2 × 25 kV.
Amtrak trains primarily use diesel fuel as their source of power. However, some Amtrak routes, such as the Acela Express in the Northeast Corridor, utilize electric power from overhead wires, known as catenaries.
1978: Amtrak begins to convert older locomotives from steam heat to reliable, electric head-end power. 1980: Locomotive No. 901 from Washington, DC, to New York becomes the first electric AEM-7 to enter revenue service.
According to the 2021 U.S. Department of Energy Data Book, Amtrak is 46% more energy efficient than traveling by car and 34% more energy efficient than domestic air travel.
Another reason why railroad transport is better than road travel is the fuel efficiency they offer compared to hiring vehicles. Railways can consume up to nine times less fuel for every ton they carry for a kilometer, making trucks fuel inefficient compared to railroad transport.
Trains consume less energy and produce less harmful pollutants than either car or air travel. Hopping on an Amtrak train will save you gas and daily wear and tear on your car. It also reduces the ever-increasing traffic congestion on the roads and in the skies.
A few early subways used steam engines, but in most existing subways, the trains, tunnel lights and station equipment all run on electricity. Overhead wires or an electrified rail known as the third rail supplies power to the trains.