For the global warming problem what you think about electrical powered trains like in Japan?

Question

What are the statistical data if possible to reduce CO2 emmissions by going rail around all the countries instead of relying upon cars so much.

Answer 1

it's a good idea, however in the USA it's not cost effective due to the large size of our rail system compared to Japans small "mileage" of tracks

Answer 2

Well, if we could run the rail on energy created by wind, sun, water, that's an obvious no-brainer for the environment, but it's still so expensive. I think biodiesel will be the next thing to really take hold (especially with all the corn we currently waste!). Light rail is great for cities, and not just the environment, because it encourages tourism, chance meetings, and commerce near the rail stations.

Answer 3

I'll have you know that electric train started here on the London underground City and South London railway, Electric traction was used due to the problem of exhaust emissions. Dam Americans think they invented civilization.

Answer 4

Electric trains reduce the CO2 emmisions because the electric generation is better than a lot of individual engines in cars or planes.  You can generate electrical power with wind, sun, water, biomass, coal, nuclear...   The problem of biodiesel is the BIG ammount of land required for the production, that must compete with FOOD.  Biodiesel isn´t the panacea.  Other:  you must move PEOPLE, not vehicles.

Answer 5

Mass transit has a nasty habit of not going where I need to go.  That's why it's only partially effective here in California.

Answer 6

Unfurtunately, that only moves the souce of the CO2 from a moving location (such as a diesel train) to a fixed one, the power plant.  Zero impact on GW.

Answer 7

Well, I'll have you know electric trains got their start right here in the US..namely on the New Haven and its copy-cat Pennsylvania (and subsequent copier, Japan).

Simply put, the expenditure and all associated issues don't make electrifying much more than already is electrified worth while.

Addition: Oxymanron can d**n Americans all he wants, but heavy electric rail got its start right here... Puney subways don't count. ANyone who knows will tell you, the first heavy electrified mainline was the New Haven's 4-track main in 1907.

Answer 8

how you gonna make all that electicity? most of the power in this country is made by burning coal lol

Answer 9

There is one thing about diesel exhaust that doesn't always fit the paradigm.  It settles to the ground.  Dieselizing automobiles would cut down on aerial pollution significantly.

Coupled with the ease of burning bio-fuels, as its relatively inexpensive source of fuel and renewable energy source, the diesel would go a long way towards reducing the amount of harmful emmisions.

Dollar for dollar, since the ifrastructure for large scale electricfying of our nations railroads does not exist, at this time, a move for more diesel powered automobiles is likely to return more benefits for dollars invested.

Mass transit is only a band-aid approach to handling the problem.  As a means of mass transit for local transportation, i.e. commuting, mass transit is definitely the most beneficial way to travel.  The problem with rail transit, on any scale, is that it must adhere to its strict path, often times many, many miles from one's destination, necessitating conventional transportation to reach the final destination.

For that reason, as well as our love of personal transportation, a trans-continental, high speed rail system is impractical.