Driving decarbonisation with Syntech biofuel
Diesel‑powered on‑track machines are critical to maintaining the UK’s rail network. However, carbon build‑up can reduce efficiency and increase fuel use and emissions over time.
In 2025, our Rail Plant team trialled a non‑intrusive Engine Carbon Cleaning (ECC) technology designed to remove internal carbon deposits and improve engine performance without disrupting planned maintenance schedules.
The 12‑week trial was carried out on a compact tamping machine and was the first time this approach had been used on rail‑mounted plant in the UK.
Using calibrated monitoring before and after treatment, the results showed measurable improvements in combustion efficiency and emissions reductions of up to 15.79% across tested engine modes.
15.79%
reduction in emissions
The trial demonstrated how practical, evidence‑based innovation can reduce emissions and improve performance while working within existing servicing windows – helping lower environmental impact without affecting operational delivery.
