Railroad Passengers: Increased Amtrak Energy Efficiency Strengthens Case for More Trains

Release #08-17—August 15, 2008

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Washington D.C., August 15, 2008—The National Association of Railroad Passengers today lauded the latest federal figures on transportation energy consumption which showed a 2.2% increase in Amtrak’s energy efficiency, making Amtrak 17.9% more efficient than airlines. Edition 27 of the annual Transportation Energy Data Book – compiled by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy – says Amtrak consumed 2,650 British Thermal Units (BTUs) per passenger-mile in 2006, versus 2,709 in 2005 – a 2.2% improvement.

“Passenger trains have always been a highly energy efficient mode of travel,” said NARP Executive Director Ross B. Capon. “These figures and the public’s increased desire to park their cars and ride trains underscore the importance of immediately increasing investments in our national passenger train system as a key component of any rational energy policy.

“Analysts consistently identify passenger trains as energy efficient, but federal policy still encourages investing most resources in the least efficient forms of transportation. That is not the road to energy independence.”

Certificated air carriers (domestic service) also improved—to 3,228 BTUs per passenger-mile in 2006 from 3,264 in 2005—but the change in ratio was in Amtrak’s favor. Amtrak used 17.9% less energy per passenger-mile than airlines in 2006 vs. 17.0% less in 2005. Conversely, airlines used 21.8% more energy than Amtrak in 2006 vs. 20.5% in 2005. The data are in table 2.14, “Energy Intensities of Nonhighway Passenger Modes, 1970-2006.”

Meanwhile, Amtrak last month set an all-time record for monthly ridership, carrying 2,750,278 passengers, up 14% from July 2007. Individual routes reported increases as high as 43%.

“The traveling public is voting with their feet and with their dollars,” noted Capon. “Unfortunately, a big part of the driving reduction means travel foregone rather than transferred to rail. With Amtrak in its sixth straight year of ridership growth, and nearing capacity of its existing fleet, it is long past time for Washington to balance public investments in transportation with our current and future energy needs – and obvious market demands.”

Americans drove 4.7% fewer miles in June than a year earlier (U.S. DOT’s August 13 release). June, 2008, was the eighth straight month of declining vehicle-miles traveled (VMT). DOT’s July 28 release showed a decline of 29.8 billion vehicle miles traveled (VMT) on U.S. roads from January to May.

Transportation Energy Data Book
Table 2.14 is at computer page 2-16 (computer page 16) (.pdf)

About NARP

NARP is the largest citizen-based organization advocating for train and rail transit passengers. We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger train service 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 24,000 individual members.