For many people, rail travel might suggest romantic images of the old West or the Orient Express. But not many Americans think of taking the train when they actually need to get someplace. Taking the train is rarely a practical option for travel in the US. And that’s a problem, because passenger trains are usually the most environmentally friendly way to get between two cities. It only takes a quick look at the carbon data and the rail systems elsewhere in the world to figure out that train travel should be a lot more than just a nostalgia trip.
Despite historical images of sweaty laborers shoveling coal to power trains belching smoke as they cross the landscape, train travel is one of the most sustainable ways to move around. Americans have some of the largest carbon footprints in the world, mostly because of our driving habits. Most of us generate more miles commuting than taking…