As Earth Day is approaching (April 22) we can’t help but think about what our industry contributes to the overall health of the environment that everyone depends on. You might not know it, but commuter and freight trains are two of the best ways to transport people and goods from point A to point B.
We thought we’d talk a little about the environmental footprint of trains and explain in detail why they are such a flexible and eco-friendly solution for our modern challenges.
Nothing Rivals Trains for Land Transport
Land transportation is integral to manufacturing and commuting in many parts of the world. When it comes to moving manufactured goods on land, the average semi-truck can get 5 miles to the gallon. You might think that number is low; a necessary evil when it comes to supply chain logistics.
However, did you know that a freight train can get 400 miles with a single gallon of fuel? That number alone speaks to the sheer efficiency of travel by train. The railroad is an exponentially more economically viable solution that has a positive and direct impact on the environment.
Trains Reduce Congestion & Pollution
Highway congestion isn’t just a bothersome part of your daily commute, but a major contributor to the lowered air quality in your city. Trains, on the other hand, produce very few carbon emissions and, as we said previously, stretch that gallon of fuel much further than a vehicle or truck. Did you know that freight trains make up almost half of the freight transportation in the United States yet contribute less than 2% of the carbon emissions in that category?
As people and goods start using trains, that means less traffic on the highways we depend on. In cities like New York, where the train infrastructure is robust, many people forgo owning an automobile completely.
Railroad Companies Are Investing in Green Technology
While trains are already inherently environmentally-friendly, freight companies are still interested in extending their eco-friendliness further. Train companies are currently investing in the following green technologies:
- Electric cranes: the cranes that move cargo on and off of rail cars are going green by switching to electricity, no-emission models.
- Railcar designs: “if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it” does not apply to railcars. Engineers continuously improve upon railcar design, exponentially increasing their fuel efficiency and storage capacity in the process.
- Start-stop systems: if you own a hybrid vehicle that turns off your engine at a red light, then you’ve seen this technology in action. Trains are adopting “no-idle” tech that shuts their engines down when they are at a stop and automatically turns them on when they are ready to resume.
- Better Rail Lubrication: there is a lot of research and development invested in rail lubrication. Why? Lubrication reduces the friction between a train and railroad, improving fuel efficiency further and reducing wear and tear on the railroad.
We love to talk trains. We are a railroad construction firm in New England. Reach out to us today to learn about all of our services and capabilities.