The operator of the Napa Valley Wine Train plans to buy three new low-emission locomotives, which will be “nearly silent and odourless” in a bid to make Napa Valley greener.
Popular tourist attraction The Napa Valley Wine Train has until now played on its antique features, with guests travelling in Pullman rail cars decked out with mahogany paneling, brass accents, etched glass partitions and armchairs that “evoke the spirit of luxury rail travel at the beginning of the 20th century”, says its operator Noble House Hotels & Resorts.
However, the Napa train service is about to steam into the future as Noble House, which bought the wine train in 2015, is planning to convert its fleet over to cleaner energy. The almost exhaust-free trains will be “nearly silent and odourless”, and will “vastly lower” carbon emissions. To fund the new trains, Noble House will draw down on a new U$6.4 million grant awarded by the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Programme, and lump it together with a US$3.9 million grant from the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust to reach the expected US$11 million cost. The longterm plan is to retire the “charming yet dated” diesel trains altogether by 2026 and replace them completely with new EPA Tier-4 engines which comply with California’s locomotive emission standards set to take effect in 2030. “We are keenly focused on the future of our business and curating experiences that offer delicious food, wine, and stunning views, while also placing importance on our environmental
This Article was originally published on The Drink Business - Wine
