Trains are more efficient and less polluting than other transportation modes

Re:Trains are more efficient and less polluting than other t... by anarchop on Monday April 01, 2019 @07:51PM (#19549595)

Deisel freight trains are huge poluters with regard to particulate matter (PM). This actually causes cancer as opposed to CO2. Reducing PM without impacting fuel efficiency significantly is possible but requires investment. https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/-/media/epa/corporate-site/resour...

Same goes for diesel trucks / busses. This type of change throughout the world would really improve people’s lives immediately.

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Re:Trains are more efficient and less polluting than other t... by fopen64 on Monday April 01, 2019 @08:12PM (#19549727)

The question is, how much pollution per tku (tons x kms)? Even if it exhausted nuclear waste, it would be worthwile if it was 1 gram per trillion tku.

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Re:Trains are more efficient and less polluting than other t... by int_19h on Monday April 01, 2019 @09:14PM (#19550137)

Trains are easier to electrify than any other mode of transport, though.

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Re:Trains are more efficient and less polluting than other t... by wongarsu on Monday April 01, 2019 @07:57PM (#19549635)

However PM is a fairly localized pollution that doesn't spread far. I don't think diesel trains that drive through the middle of nowhere are that bad. Near population centers it would be preferable to switch to electric locomotives.

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Re:Trains are more efficient and less polluting than other t... by johnwalkr on Tuesday April 02, 2019 @09:40AM (#19553918)

There's a handful of hybrid trains in Japan that are electric in urban areas and use a diesel generator in rural parts of the route.

A quick search didn't reveal any running North America but considering diesel locomotives have mostly used diesel generators and electric motors since the 70s, it's not a stretch to think about implementation there.

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