TRAINS ARE GREEN!
HERE'S WHY!

 

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Updated: February 16/03

  • An intercity passenger train is at least 6 times as energy-efficient as a single-occupant car, (more if compared to a gas-guzzling SUV) and 3 times that of commercial air.

  • Freight trains emit only 1/3 the nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and just 1/10th the volatile organic compounds and particulates dumped by heavy trucks for every ton of goods moved 1 kilometre. A UK study showed for every ton of freight switched to rail the amount of carbon emitted per km would drop by 88%.

  • Trucks spew out over 100 grammes of greenhouse gases per tonne-km compared with approximately 20 grammes per tonne-km for rail and 10 for marine.

  • 2 railway tracks can carry as many people in one hour as 16 lanes of highway. If we lose the E&N land will be taken from Goldstream Park and/or Sooke Hills for more highways.

  • Of land-based motorized modes only intercity bus is more efficient than rail (939 Btus per passenger mile compared with 2,537 Btus). But when trains have been eliminated (as in Nova Scotia) people who have access to cars will not take buses. That erases energy savings.

  • Trains encourage green compact development, avoiding sprawl and excessive auto dependence.
(Sources: New York City DEC, Transport 2000, Worldwatch Institute)

The Colwood Crawl was seen on a frosty morning when a cloud of exhaust from one car shows that the vehicles are at standstill -- in a 90 K zone.
This chart points to the environmental superiority of rail, especially valuable in commuting circumstances.

Think Globally! Act Locally! Save the E&N!

Contact David Anderson, MP, Environment Minister
250-363-3600

TODAY!