The National Railway Administration has recently issued the Measures for the Supervision and Management of the Phase-Out and Replacement of Aging Railway Diesel Locomotives (hereinafter referred to as the “Measures”). The Measures are designed to facilitate the systematic and orderly retirement of outdated diesel locomotives, optimize the structure of railway rolling stock, improve transport efficiency, and support the railway sector’s transition toward energy conservation, emission reduction, and high-quality development. Effective upon release, the Measures establish key policy guidelines and an operational framework for the modernization of railway equipment management in the new era.
With the rapid advancement of railway technologies—particularly the expansion of electrified networks and the widespread adoption of advanced locomotives—many early-generation diesel locomotives no longer meet contemporary requirements in terms of technical performance, energy efficiency, environmental impact, or operating costs. The introduction of the Measures strengthens oversight and management of this critical transition.
The Measures clearly define the scope of “aging railway diesel locomotives” based on comprehensive criteria such as technical standards, emission levels, service age, and economic viability. A key objective is to establish a standardized and transparent mechanism to govern the phase-out and replacement process.
Key provisions of the Measures include:
Clarifying Responsibilities: Railway transport enterprises are required to formulate and implement medium- to long-term plans and annual schedules for replacing aging locomotives.
Standardizing Disposal: Retired locomotives must be scrapped, dismantled, and disposed of in accordance with national regulations on environmental protection, resource utilization, and state-owned asset management. Green recycling technologies and methods are encouraged.
Strengthening Supervision: The National Railway Administration and its regional offices will enhance oversight of replacement progress and take action against non-compliance, irregularities, or falsification.
Promoting Technological Upgrade: Enterprises are encouraged to adopt new energy, clean energy, and high-efficiency environmentally friendly locomotives to accelerate the transition toward a green and low-carbon traction system.
Industry experts highlight the multiple benefits of the Measures, including significant emission reductions in line with national carbon goals, lower lifecycle operating costs, enhanced railway safety through the retirement of aging equipment, and sustained demand to support innovation and upgrading in the domestic locomotive manufacturing sector.
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