Do trains or trucks cause more pollution?

Question

I was wondering for a geography thing. Please tell me your proof.

Answer 1

Trains are much more efficient at moving freight long distances compared to trucks.

When you compare total fuel burned along with total cargo weight moved, trains win hands down.

Answer 2

I think the space shuttle spews more c**p in the air than anything we have seen so far but thats ok because we are looking for a safer planet to blast off from.

Answer 3

Trucks cause way more pollution.

The benchmark is Ton Miles Per Gallon of fuel.  At full rack an old SD-45 will consume around 196 gallons of fuel per hour.  The newer locos are even more efficient, with fuel consumption as low as 160 gallons per hour, at full rack.

The efficiency is ever more improved by virtue of the fact that, after accelerating a train up to speed, it takes a lot less power to keep it moving, thanks to inertia.  When running at lower throttle positions, fuel consumption drops dramatically, and the TMPG goes through the roof.

Trucks have their place.  It is on top of a flat car.

Answer 4

Railroads are three times more fuel-efficient than trucks. If just 10 percent of the freight moved by highway were diverted to rail, the nation could save as much as 200 million gallons of fuel each year. – U.S. Department of Transportation and Association of American Railroads

Railroad fuel efficiency has increased by 72 percent since 1980. Then, a gallon of diesel fuel moved one ton of freight an average of 235 miles. In 2001, the same amount of fuel moved one ton of freight an average of 406 miles.

Railroads and rail suppliers have reduced the weight and increased the capacity of rail cars to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. The average freight car capacity is now nearly 93 tons, up 17 percent in just the past 20 years.

The EPA estimates that for every ton-mile, a typical truck emits roughly three times more nitrogen oxides and particulates than a locomotive.

According to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, if ten percent of intercity freight now moving by highway were shifted to rail, 2.5 million fewer tons of carbon dioxide would be emitted into the air annually.

RAIL vs. TRUCK

Capacity 1 Double-stack train equals up to 280 Trucks

Fuel Efficiency Trains are 2-4 times more fuel efficient than trucks on a ton-mile basis

NOx Emissions Trains are 3 times cleaner than trucks on a ton-mile basis

Answer 5

Most pollution come from natural things like volcanos. The environmentilist whackos would have you believe otherwise.

Answer 6

I am not sure but I do know that 1 train replaces 280 trucks on the road.