Certain locomotives running on the MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) Commuter Rail system are now using renewable diesel, according to Keolis Commuter Services, which operates and maintains the railroad.
As part of an alternative fuel pilot, all units that lay over at the Newburyport Commuter Rail facility (see map, below) are being fueled with Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil, Keolis reported May 14. HVO is made from vegetable oil and animal fats. Since it emits less carbon than fossil diesel, usage is slated to cut emissions and reduce the Commuter Rail system’s carbon footprint, helping the Commonwealth reach emissions reduction goals.
So far, Keolis said it has seen “steady locomotive performance” using HVO. At the end of the pilot, Keolis and MBTA will evaluate the renewable fuel’s performance and decide if its use can be expanded to other locations across the Commuter Rail system.
“We’re pleased to partner with Keolis on this renewable diesel pilot as we continuously seek ways to reduce our carbon footprint,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng, who was recently selected by Railway Age readers as one of the Most Influential Leaders in 2025. “Testing alternative fuel sources for our Commuter Rail fleet joins other efforts at the T to lower our carbon emissions, and we look forward to evaluating the results of the pilot as we continue to increase resiliency across the system.”
“Getting people out of their cars and onto the train is a great first step, and we need to do more if we are going to reach the Commonwealth’s emissions goals,” added Abdellah Chajai, CEO and General Manager of Keolis. “This pilot program is a great opportunity to utilize an innovative new approach and can reduce CO2 emissions by more than 70% for these locomotives compared to fossil diesel. We’re pleased to partner with the MBTA to make this pilot project a success.”
