Reducing GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions from our locomotive operations remains a key CPKC sustainability goal and an important issue facing the railway industry. CPKC has made potentially industry-changing progress toward that goal through our pioneering Hydrogen Locomotive Program.
A recent commentary written by Don Graab and published in Railway Age (“A Three-Tiered Approach to Emission Reductions – Starting from the Bottom,” July 22, 2025) mischaracterizes the safety and operational advances made with our innovative technology and makes false assumptions about key motivations for CPKC’s growing program.
CPKC started the Hydrogen Locomotive Program to support the industry in achieving practical zero-emission solutions as we all journey toward decarbonization. It is not about one specific policy from any one government, which can change at any time as we have seen in Canada with carbon taxes.
Beyond capital investment, what about maintaining safety, efficiently producing the needed power and getting the fuel?
Safety always has been front and center in developing hydrogen locomotive power. Our locomotives, designed by professional engineers, include several advanced systems to maintain operational safety. For example, critical safety features are in place to detect potential hydrogen leaks and properly store onboard hydrogen. Effective ventilation and detection of hydrogen maintains a safe operation. Left unstated in Mr. Graab’s overview of locomotive power alternatives is that lithium batteries present similar flammability risks when compared to hydrogen.
A well-designed hydrogen system using the right materials can overcome a small hydrogen molecule’s tendency to leak. We’ve seen this demonstrated with hydrogen automobiles, buses, helicopters, forklifts and other transportation vehicles used every day. Again, advanced leak detection systems are central to the success of our technology. These systems are tied into the control system and are capable of shutting down the locomotive.
Pipelines can and do play a distribution role. Geographical regions such as Edmonton, Alberta and Houston, Tex. have hosted hydrogen pipelines for several decades. Hydrogen is heavily utilized in fossil fuel refining processes. These pipelines extended several miles among several refining sites. But the options are not limited to pipeline.
Two CPKC terminals receive hydrogen today by truck. The hydrogen, offloaded into on-site storage vessels, is liquified at the source, enabling transportation. Several distribution companies have existed for decades and continue to operate. We also make hydrogen through an electrolysis process at two of our locations, thereby negating the need to distribute. Dedicated right-sized electrolyzers can be purchased and installed based on the required amount of daily-use hydrogen.
Dr. Kyle Mulligan is Assistant Vice President Operations Technology at CPKC. He holds a doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Sherbrooke in addition to degrees in computer systems, electrical, and biomedical engineering. He is a two-time recipient of CPKC’s CEO Award for Excellence, was named as one of Railway Age’s 2018 10 under 40 recipients, and is a mentor with FIRST, a group that inspires young people’s interest and participation in science and technology. Kyle also volunteers as an engineer for CPKC’s mini train program and with Grow Calgary, Canada’s largest community farm.
