Green Railroading

Green Star 

The Alaska Railroad earned a Green Star Award in 1993. The railroad recertified the Green Star Award and earned an additional Green Star Air Quality Award. Since then, ARRC continues to pursue programs and initiatives that promote environmental stewardship. For example, during the past couple of years:

• Substantial investments in track straightening and track upgrades mean more efficient, shorter runs among points along the entire Railbelt.

• Planned upgrades to locomotives continue to lower emissions.

• The Real Estate and Facilities Department used thermal imaging to identify and repair sources of heat loss in more than 70 railroad facilities. In 2008, energy demand on the Anchorage rail yard boiler plant dropped by nearly one third.

• Facility crews are upgrading smart thermostats to regulate day and nighttime temperatures for maximum efficiency, installing light-switch motion detectors and replacing inefficient fluorescent lamps and garage doors.

• Green renovation is well underway on ARRC’s freight shed facility in Ship Creek. The historic building will be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program when complete.

Learn More>> about ARRC's Green Star awards and efforts.

Commuter Rail

The Alaska Railroad is ready to partner with a regional transit authority to bring Commuter Rail to southcentral Alaska. Get the Facts>>