Despite facing vocal criticism for blocking California planned car emissions standards, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) won plaudits from green groups last week for introducing tough new emissions standards that will slash pollution from trains and ships.

The EPA said that the new standards would cut reduce soot or particulate matter (PM) from locomotive and marine diesel engines by 90 per cent or 27,000 tons. The standards will also cut nitrogen oxides emissions (NOx) by 80 per cent or nearly 800,000 tons.

The standards will apply to a wide range of different engines, including all types of diesel locomotives and ferries, tug boats, Great Lake freighters and all types of marine auxiliary engines.

The Agency estimates that the standards will deliver health benefits of between $8.4bn and $12bn. It added that tighter long term standards would also be introduced from 2014 for marine diesel engines and in 2015 for locomotive engines, further increasing pressure on both sectors to step up investment in cleaner engine technologies.

"Today the EPA is fitting another important piece into the clean diesel puzzle by cleaning emissions from our trains and boats," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "As more and more goods flow through our ports and railways, EPA is cutting diesel emissions at their source – keeping our nation on track toward a clean, healthy, productive tomorrow."