Rail Needed to Help on Global Warming

Release #06-18—November 3, 2006

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Washington, D.C.—More trains can help address the global warming problem. ”Energy efficiency is a good proxy for emissions, and emissions per passenger-mile and ton-mile are lower for rail than for aviation, cars and trucks,” said Ross B. Capon, executive director of the National Association of Railroad Passengers.

• Amtrak in 2003 consumed 18% less energy per passenger-mile than commercial aviation; 17% less than automobiles,
• Commuter rail was 22% more energy efficient than automobiles, and
• Freight rail was 18% more fuel efficient per ton-mile than water carriers. And, comparing energy consumption per rail-car-mile and per mile traveled by heavy single-unit and combination trucks, the rail-car consumed 36% fewer British Thermal Units.

[Source for all modes: Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Transportation Energy Data Book: Edition 25, tables 2.11, 2.12 and 2.14]

Capon noted, “Obviously, rail’s contribution could be even stronger if the U.S. had a serious rail passenger investment program, and stronger policy support for freight rail. Moreover, the passenger figures above understate rail’s existing contribution because they do not reflect rail’s ability to encourage pedestrian-friendly real estate development and intercity rail’s ability to encourage transit-friendly development.”

That modern rail can divert air travel is important. The London-Paris/ Brussels rail service Eurostar advertises that such rail trips produce one-tenth the carbon emissions that a comparable flight produces. Globally, the United Nations says air travel already causes at least 3% of carbon dioxide emissions. Aviation is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gases; growth in Europe averaged 4.5% a year the past decade. The European Union is to limit emissions from airlines, probably starting in 2010. The European Commission is considering bringing aviation within the emissions trading scheme. To encourage more rail travel, former U.K. Transport Minister Steven Norris has suggested an air pollution tax of $38 a ticket on short-haul European flights.

Rail—like all actions relevant to global warming—should get more attention after the October 30 release by the British government of a report by Sir Nicholas Stern, formerly World Bank chief economist. That study finds that action taken now on global warming would cost just one percent of world economic output by 2050. By contrast, failure to act likely would shrink the world economy five to 20% over the next two centuries “because of disruption to people’s way of life caused by global warming” [Financial Times, Oct. 31].

Rail is also germane to the report in today’s issue of the journal Science that the world could run out of seafood by 2048 based on current pollution and over-fishing trends. Run-off from highways and parking lots is a major source of waterway pollution, yet U.S. public policies continue to encourage massive expansion of just such facilities. A strong rail investment program should reduce pressures for highway expansion.

The U.S. alone accounts for 25% of the world’s greenhouse emissions, with transportation contributing one-third of the nation’s emissions (rising to 36% by 2010), and highway vehicles accounting for 72% of total U.S. transportation emissions. Each year, U.S. transportation produces more CO2 than any other nation’s entire economy, except China. [Source: The Pew Center on Global Climate Change]

About NARP

NARP is the only national organization speaking for the users of passenger trains and rail transit. We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger rail in the U.S. Our mission is to work towards a modern, customer-focused national passenger train network that provides a travel choice Americans want. Our work is supported by over 20,000 individual members.