Japanese railway company JR West aims to switch all diesel trains to biofuel around 2030

In Japan, Nikkei Asia reported that West Japan Railway (JR West), plans to introduce biofuel in all its diesel trains, which operate mainly on local lines, by around 2030. According to sources, JR West will conduct a test run of railcars using biofuels in fiscal year 2023 between Shimonoseki Station and Nagatoshi Station in Yamaguchi prefecture to verify their fuel efficiency and performance. The railway company will buy the biofuel from Tokyo-based firm Euglena and major trading houses, according to Nikkei Asia. According to JR West, the current price of biofuel is several times higher than that of diesel, increasing operating costs.

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