European Tribune - Comments - New Rail World Speed Record

New Rail World Speed Record | 84 comments (84 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: New Rail World Speed Record (4.00 / 2)

It'd be nice (not that I have the slightest idea about much of this stuff) to see a comparison again on the environmental impact of rail, in particular high-speed electric rail, versus competing transport methods (in particular, air).

I think you've done this before too.

Fai de bèn a Bertrand, te lou rendra en cagant

by redstar on Tue Apr 3rd, 2007 at 12:56:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: New Rail World Speed Record (none / 1)

OK, I'll look for that tomorrow from work.

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Tue Apr 3rd, 2007 at 02:06:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: New Rail World Speed Record (none / 0)

Sounds very interesting.
Can you also include a slow form like Hot Air/dirigibles blimps? I have read the USA DoD is thinking of using some of these for transport of heavy equipment.

Rutherfordian ------------------------------ RDRutherford

by Ronald Rutherford (rdrradio1 -at- msn -dot- com) on Tue Apr 3rd, 2007 at 05:29:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: New Rail World Speed Record (none / 0)

Doesn´t DoD publish its reports and environmental impact statements?

Our knowledge has surpassed our wisdom. -Charu Saxena.

by metavision on Tue Apr 3rd, 2007 at 06:07:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: New Rail World Speed Record (4.00 / 2)

I suspect that bicycles are still the only form of transportation with a net savings of time when you count all the time going into building and maintaining the systems. Meaning that those using a system save less time than the many other people lose creating and maintaining it.

Not quite the question you were asking, but in the same vein.

Jeff Wegerson - Prairie State Blue

by wegerje on Wed Apr 4th, 2007 at 02:19:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: New Rail World Speed Record (none / 1)

I don't talk hot air :-)

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Wed Apr 4th, 2007 at 04:37:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: New Rail World Speed Record (none / 1)

Looking around the ET archive, relevant stuff:

A back-of-the-envelope calculation of mine about the power use of a high-speed train and an A340.
A later follow-up, with comparable numbers calculated for litres of fuel per passenger-kilometre, assuming electricity for trains from petrol-burning power plants.
Afew's Air Fare Blair diary.
A discussion on cars vs. trains with focus on consumption.

I also looked up a source on CO2 emissions themselves, it's from German railways 2004 report, all numbers are gram CO2 per ton-kilometre:

Freight transport: train 29, river barges 35, road (lorries >3.5t) 96, airplanes 665
Local passenger: buses 77, trains 98, average private car 148
long-distance passenger (includes high-speed ICE): buses 33, trains 52, average car 147, [domestic] planes 183

Note that train CO2 emissions can be reduced to near zero by changing the structure of power generation...

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Wed Apr 4th, 2007 at 06:20:38 AM EST
[ Parent ]

New Rail World Speed Record | 84 comments (84 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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