The main source of air pollution from rail transportation is emissions of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and particulate matter in the exhaust gases of diesel locomotives. However, the requirements of national and regional environmental standards for these emissions have not changed for a decade. Therefore, a more flexible control system is needed to stimulate the reduction of these emissions during the overhaul of diesel locomotives through innovations. A comparison and measurement of the requirements for the indicators of permissible specific average weighted emissions of those air pollutants, which are defined in the national and regional standards of countries with developed diesel locomotive construction, was carried out. An algorithm was developed to calculate the norms for classifying these indicators into four categories based on the specified national and regional standards. On the basis of these norms, an algorithm was developed for determining the categories of emissions of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and particulate matter. The proposed algorithm for combining these categories allows us to determine the categories of carbon footprint, greenhouse gases, and overhauled diesel locomotive. Progressive and competitive algorithms have been developed to stimulate stakeholders depending on the category of a diesel locomotive. The combination of these algorithms forms an organizational mechanism that stimulates the reduction of diesel locomotive emissions after overhaul. The results of this mechanism are illustrated by example of reducing emissions of the main pollutants into the atmosphere by diesel locomotives. The results obtained were used in developing a concept for reducing emissions from diesel locomotives of Russian Railways.