CSX Corporation announced its plan to reduce the company’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity 6 to 8 percent over 2011 levels by 2020, helping to shrink the environmental footprint of transportation in America.

CSX achieved its previous GHG emissions reduction goal a year ahead of its 2011 deadline, decreasing GHG emissions intensity by 8 percent over 2006 levels by 2010.

“This new goal demonstrates CSX’s continued commitment to minimizing its environmental footprint, while delivering great service to customers and growth to shareholders,” said Skip Elliott, vice president, public safety and environment. “Improving efficiency and protecting the environment is the right thing to do and makes good business sense. CSX is taking aggressive steps now to meet its emission reduction goal as soon as possible.”

CSX’s employees take a comprehensive approach to efficiency improvements, discovering new ways to reduce the energy required to pull trains, using better equipment to produce that energy more efficiently, and minimizing the energy consumed when locomotives are not pulling trains. In addition, the company has teams focused on reducing the energy footprint of its facilities and vehicles across its network.

“Since 1980, CSX has improved its fuel efficiency by 90 percent, driven by cutting-edge technology,” Elliott said. “This new technology, such as trip optimizers and event recorders, helps the company track and improve train operations. In addition, new locomotives such as the GE Evolution series and low-emission switchers are used to benefit the environment and the bottom line.”

CSX tracks and reports its environmental progress in a number of ways, including participation in the Carbon Disclosure Project. CSX was named to the Carbon Performance Leadership Index in 2011. In addition, CSX was named a Climate Innovation Leader by the Maplecroft Index this year. The company is also investing in major infrastructure investments, such as the National Gateway public-private partnership, which will further improve network efficiency and reduce overall transportation industry emissions by making existing rail routes accessible to double-stack freight trains.