The biodiesel industry can add commuter trains to its list of users after the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority announced that on Oct. 29th it began fueling eight of its Tri-Rail train sets with no less than 80 percent biodiesel.
The commuter trains operate daily on 72 miles of track between Miami International Airport and West Palm Beach, Fla. Bonnie Arnold, marketing director for the transport authority, said south Florida’s warm climate makes it possible for the trains to use high blends of biodiesel year-round. The trains are currently using a B99 blend of fuel. However, according to Arnold, that high percentage is not always readily available and the trains may occasionally run on blends as low as B80. Soy and palm oil-derived biodiesel will be used based on its availability. Fuel is being obtained for the locomotives via the Port of Tampa, Fla., but at press time the identity of the producer which holds the supply contract was not available.
Read more
(The success of the biodiesel fuel industry relies heavily on biodiesel testing, not only at the production level but at the consumer level, where degraded fuel may cause engine failures.  Fleet Biodiesel's family of inexpensive biodiesel test kits is just a click away on the internet)