Grand Canyon Railway gets funding to convert locomotive to battery power

PHOENIX — The Grand Canyon Railway in northern Arizona is on track to go greener thanks to a federal grant.

The scenic rail line that carries tourists between Williams and the Grand Canyon’s South Rim recently received a $3.4 million Department of Transportation (DOT) award for a zero-emission locomotive conversion.

The funding will be used to equip a diesel locomotive to run fully on battery power.

Xanterra, the company that operates the Grand Canyon Railway, will pay for 20% of the conversion.

“This project is a unique chance to bring modern efficiency to a historic rail icon,” Eric Hadder, the railway’s chief mechanical officer, said in a press release Monday.

When will Grand Canyon Railway debut battery-powered locomotive?

The battery-powered locomotive is expected to be ready for use by 2027. It will be able to cover the scenic 65-mile route on a single charge, with help from a regenerative braking system that can charge the battery by 30% per trip.

The onboard experience won’t change significantly for passengers. However, the battery-powered locomotive will be quieter and won’t produce diesel exhaust.

“The Grand Canyon Railway is a place where you can experience both the amazing legacy of steam locomotion and, soon, modern innovations such as battery-electric propulsion. This project will significantly reduce the already low environmental impact of visiting the Grand Canyon via rail and will provide a quieter and cleaner guest experience,” Kevin Crosby, director of sustainability for Xanterra, said in the release.

The battery conversion isn’t the railway’s first green initiative.

“This builds on our previous innovation of converting our historic steam locomotives to run on waste vegetable oil,” Crosby said.

The Grand Canyon Railway, which debuted in 1901, operates every day but Christmas. In November and December, it offers Polar Express service, a special 90-minute nighttime round trip to visit Santa at “the North Pole.”

Grand Canyon Railway isn’t the only Arizona project to get a grant

The DOT’s Federal Railroad Administration announced the Grand Canyon Railway grant on Oct. 29 as part of a $2.4 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investment in 122 rail improvement projects across the nation.

Three other Arizona rail projects were also funded, with the state getting total of $60.2 million.

Here’s a look at the other awards:

• The Arizona Eastern Railway Company is getting about $21.6 million to rehabilitate approximately 34 miles of track and make other improvements.
• The Flagstaff Amtrak station received just under $5 million for an accessibility project.
• More than $30.2 million will go toward a improving the northwestern Arizona portion of Amtrak’s Southwest Chief line.

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