Globally, G&W operations reduced Scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions by more than 3% in 2021.
G&W’s North American operations reduced Scope 1 & 2 emissions intensity by more than 6% in 2021.
G&W’s UK/Europe operations reduced Scope 1 & 2 emissions intensity by more than 2%.
Our Scope 1 emissions consist of all G&W’s direct GHG emissions, including mobile and stationary combustion sources such as locomotives, cars, trucks and equipment, as well as refrigerants. Our Scope 2 emissions included all of G&W’s purchased electricity.
G&W’s North American operations improved fuel efficiency predominantly by retiring older locomotives in favor of more fuel-efficient models. In 2021, we also continued to invest in carbon-reduction technologies such as Automatic Engine Start/Stop (AESS) systems and Auxiliary Power Units (APUs). As of December 31, AESS and APU technology was installed on more than 25% of our locomotive fleet, and based on these installations, we expect to save more than 14,500 metric tons of CO₂e annually. We are continuing to upgrade additional locomotives with these fuel-saving technologies as part of our annual capital plans.
G&W’s UK/Europe operations’ improvements were largely derivative of an increased focus on efficient train operations and handling. In addition, Freightliner won funding to trial the adaptation of a Class 66 locomotive running with 30% of its diesel fuel replaced by hydrogen or biogas derived from sources such as food and municipal waste. The dual-fuel project is supported by a variety of industry participants who are seeking to reduce UK emissions, and we are optimistic that the new technologies will help us reduce our carbon impact in the years ahead.
G&W’s Global Emission Intensity
Scope 1 & 2 Emissions
| CO₂e | GTM (millions) | CO₂e/MGTM | % Change from 2020 | |
| 2021 | 666,404 | 32,954 | 20.22 | -3.30% |
| 2020 | 654,447 | 31,294 | 20.91 |
Locomotive Emissions
| CO₂e | GTM (millions) | CO₂e/MGTM | % Change from 2020 | |
| 2021 | 566,775 | 32,954 | 17.20 | -3.65% |
| 2020 | 558,603 | 31,294 | 17.85 |
G&W ESG Highlights
Customer Success Stories
North Carolina & Virginia Railroad Upgrades Track for 19-Year Customer
Recognizing the value in its 19-year relationship with Nucor, Genesee & Wyoming’s (G&W) North Carolina & Virginia Railroad Company (NCVA) undertook a project to upgrade track for 286,000-lbs. capacity along its 56 miles and increase speeds on a substantial portion of the line.
Customers Benefit from Kyle Railroad’s Railcar Storage during Pandemic
COVID’s crippling impact on the economy forced many railcar owners to seek storage space at levels rarely seen – to the tune of 390,000 cars stored across North America’s rail-freight network by the end of March 2020. Determined to make the best of an unprecedented situation and support its customers, G&W’s Kyle Railroad (KYLE) devised a plan that leveraged its 550-mile footprint across Kansas and eastern Colorado to satisfy the demand and help keep the rail industry’s network fluid.
Maryland Midland Railway Team Willing to Get Hands Dirty for County Bureau
To many passerby, the scene was likely nothing more than mounds of dirt. But for Maryland Midland Railway (MMID), that dirt translated to big business. In 2017, Carrol County Bureau of Resource Management (CCBRM) approached MMID regarding a project to redirect Little Pipe Creek and create a drainage pond to improve waterflow and reduce downstream flooding in Westminster, Maryland. With the streambed directly adjacent to MMID’s mainline, the county sought shuttle service to haul 70,000 cubic yards of dirt to two locations roughly five miles west in New Windsor, Maryland – a site that was being repurposed into a baseball field and a farm that was undergoing regrading.