The California train will begin using fuel made from used cooking oil and other non-fossil fuel sources.
Amtrak will start using ‘renewable’ diesel oil in its Pacific Surfliner trails, reports Dan Zukowski in Smart Cities Dive.
The fuel will come from sources such as used cooking oil, which the Los Angeles—San Diego—San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency claims will cut greenhouse gas emissions by 63 percent throughout its life cycle. “According to a LOSSAN spokesperson, no changes were needed for the locomotives to run on renewable diesel, and the cost per gallon is comparable to fossil-fuel-derived diesel fuel.”
The U.S. Department of Energy says while the net supply of renewable diesel has grown from 58 million gallons in 2011 to almost 1.9 billion in 2022, demand could soon outpace supply as more transit agencies look to replace fossil fuels with other sources. “‘Fuels made from wastes and residues are in particularly high demand because they satisfy GHG and feedstock policy objectives in the United States and Europe,’ according to a 2022 IEA report.”
Read the full story: Amtrak switches to renewable diesel fuel for ‘Pacific Surfliner’ trains
Sea Level Rise Threatens an Iconic California Train
A scenic Southern California line could require relocation as rising sea levels destabilize the coastal soil that supports its tracks.
Amtrak unveils proposal to restructure, split into 3 divisions
Agency officials say the new structure would offer more transparency and accountability.
Amtrak makes over 160 stations fully accessible
Upgrades include new elevators, signage and accessible restrooms.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity
Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.
Move over, LA: St. Louis gears up for Olympics, invests millions in downtown redevelopment
The Missouri city will host the 2028 Olympic soccer group stage and knockout matches.
San Diego’s Midway Rising project gets greenlight from city council
The project looks to become the largest affordable housing development in California's history.
Bill to overhaul energy permitting clears Senate
The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 still needs to pass the House of Representatives.
MTA sends Dem leaders a wish list to mend Trump’s damages
Requests include exempting new train and bus components from tariffs and increasing transit security funding.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello