Environmental design in rail transportation

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Diesel trains replaced the steam engine in the late 1920s as a cleaner more efficient way of moving people and goods. Since 1980, the amount of freight being hauled by Diesel Trains has nearly doubled, yet the fuel consumption of trains has virtually stayed the same. Estimates have shown that about {{convert|45|e9USgal|e6m3|abbr=unit|order=flip}} of fuel have been saved by increasing the efficiency in diesel trains. US Department of Energy reported that commercial airline energy intensity was {{convert|3587|BTU/mile|kJ/km|order=flip}}, automobiles were {{convert|3549|BTU/mile|kJ/km|order=flip}}, while commuter rail energy intensity was just {{convert|2751|BTU/mile|kJ/km|order=flip}}, which indicates that rail transportation is the most energy efficient of the three. The Union Pacific Rail Road has implemented a particle filter on their diesel engines. Silicon carbide blocks trap particles from the exhaust as they leave the engine, greatly reducing emissions.{{cite web| title = UP: Environmental Management | publisher = Union Pacific Rail Road. | url = http://www.uprr.com/she/emg/index.shtml | accessdate = June 28, 2009}}

Electric trains have always had no direct carbon emissions because they are run entirely by internal electric motors. However, the means of generating the electricity used to power these motors was predominately by burning fossil fuels or coal, both of which produce a large amount of carbon emissions. With the emergence of 'clean energy' generation, electrical trains actually run with very low environmental impact. For example, the proposal for the high-speed rail line between San Francisco and Los Angeles in California has the potential for zero greenhouse gas emissions, with the 3,350 GWh each year being generated by California's extensive infrastructure of renewable energy sources.{{cite web| title = Californias-220-MPH-high-speed-train | date = 15 September 2008 | publisher = CleanTechnica.com. | url = http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/15/californias-220-mph-high-speed-train-will-be-emissions-free/ | accessdate = June 27, 2009}}

Image:UNION PACIFIC Y2513 20070228.jpg GG20B Green Goat diesel-hybrid locomotive.|250 px]]

Since 1986, engineers have been developing electric-diesel "hybrid" trains. One type of hybrid train implements battery power when the train is idling and at low speed movement, and a diesel engine at higher speeds. To recharge the batteries, power from the diesel motor, charge utilizing regenerative braking, or a combination of both is used. According to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, hybrid trains reduce the carbon emissions of Diesel Trains by 19%.{{cite conference |title = Thermo-Economic Analysis of Dual Mode Hybrid Trains: Abstract |conference=2007 International Conference on Clean Electrical Power |publisher = Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. | doi = 10.1109/ICCEP.2007.384191| s2cid = 11938019 }} Another type of hybrid train, such as the RailPower Technologies Green Goat, uses a large battery, and a small set of generators ("genset") for power. The genset is run at a constant speed and is attached to a generator to replenish the battery.

Hydrogen propulsion is an emerging technology, and is currently being implemented in locomotives. Hydrogen-powered trains dubbed "Hydrail" emit only water as a by product of combustion, and have a zero direct greenhouse gas emission. However, the process used to generate hydrogen in a form useful to power trains does produce a small amount of greenhouse gases. By using wind energy and electrolysis, 6.85 grams of greenhouse gases per MJ of LHV are produced, which is an insignificant amount compared to the 22 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions from one gallon of gasoline.{{cite web| title = Recent Canadian Advances in Hydrail and Nuclear Based Hydrogen Production | publisher = Hydrail | url = http://www.hydrail.org/docs/5_stasko.pdf | accessdate = June 27, 2009}} Trains are prime targets for hydrogen propulsion due to their ability to store massive tanks of hydrogen.{{cite web| title = Hydrail: Hydrogen trains picking up steam? | publisher = Hydrail | url = http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9014097 | accessdate = June 27, 2009}}

Rail transportation emits about 0.2 pounds of greenhouse gases per passenger mile ({{convert|0.2|lb/mi|g/km|disp=out}}) when each car is filled with 50 passengers. This figure increases to about 0.5 pounds per passenger mile (140 g/km) when only filled with half that amount. These numbers are still much lower than those of jet transportation, about 1 pound per passenger mile (280 g/km), and that of a solo car driver, about 1.15 pounds per passenger mile (325 g/km). Even the fuel efficient Prius emits more greenhouse gases per passenger mile.{{cite web| title = How Low-Carbon Can You Go: The Green Travel Ranking | publisher = Sightline Institute. | url = http://www.sightline.org/maps/charts/climate-CO2byMode/? | accessdate = December 9, 2014}}

Estimates have shown that if just 10% of long-distance freight that is currently moving by truck were to be moved instead by diesel trains, the resulting carbon emission reduction would be the equivalent of taking 2 million cars off the road.{{cite web | title = Green from the Start | publisher = Association of American Railroads. | url = https://www.aar.org/BackgroundPapers/Railroads%20and%20Greenhouse%20Gas%20Emissions.pdf | accessdate = December 9, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160128120951/https://www.aar.org/BackgroundPapers/Railroads%20and%20Greenhouse%20Gas%20Emissions.pdf | archive-date = January 28, 2016 | url-status = dead }} The results are more dramatic when the diesel train figures are replaced by hybrid and electric train figures.

• Environmental issues with energy
• Green track
• List of low emissions locomotives

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{Cite web|title=Comparison of Transportation Emissions |publisher=Sightline Institute |url=http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/6778/sightline.jpg |accessdate=June 27, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718052819/http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/6778/sightline.jpg |archivedate=July 18, 2011 }}
• {{Cite web|title=Diagram of Green Goat Engine |publisher=RailPower Technologies Corp. |url=http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/8021/greengoat.jpg |accessdate=June 27, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929020450/http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/8021/greengoat.jpg |archivedate=September 29, 2011 }}
• {{Cite web | title = Hydrail Home: International Hydrail Conference | publisher = Hydrail. | url = http://www.hydrail.org/ | accessdate = June 27, 2009}}

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Category:Rail technologies

Category:Sustainable transport