Trains and its Effects on the Environment

People dont often stop and think about basic activities and how they affect the environment.

Simply choosing to drive a car over riding a bike has negative impacts on the environment that

prove harmful in the long run. See transportation for example; there are currently over 1.2

billion vehicles in use worldwide (Voelcker, 2014) each contributing to a large number of

carbon emissions. Even though people realize the negative effects on the environment, not many

decide to take steps in order to reduce their carbon footprint. According to a poll by Rasmussen

Reports (2014), [only] 37% of Americans highly valued environmental issues. However, the

concern for climate change continues to grow.

This paper will cover the topic of trains and its combat with carbon emissions. Trains can be

more environmentally-friendly than driving a car. In 2013, 3.5% of transport [carbon dioxide]

emissions were due to the rail sector [while] emissions from transport has continuously increased

since 2010 rising from 22.7% in 2010 to 23.4% (International Union of Railways, 2016, p. 18).

Nowadays, there are many ways that trains have improved in terms of reduced carbon emissions.

Take a look at Vancouvers Skytrains. The newly built Evergreen Extension help lessen the need

to drive a car with the introduction of an alternative: taking the train. (Saltman, 2016). Another

would be trains based on the principle of magnetic levitation. Maglev trains produces zero

emissions unlike conventional trains that run on diesel or coal (Nan, 2014). These are some

steps that are needed to be taken in order to achieve a more sustainable future. Although

technological advances in transport have greatly boosted trade, travel, and so forth, it has led to

an increase in carbon emissions which can be improved upon through technological

advancements and other alternatives.

This section of the paper will cover the history of trains, starting with the first steam locomotive.

Richard Trevithick is credited with inventing the first high-pressure steam engine and the first

operational steam locomotive (Ricci, 2012). The locomotives main purpose was to replace

horse-drawn carriages for more efficient methods to transport coal and iron from the mines. For

the trains engine to run, steam locomotives used coal as a fuel source from early on

(Mitsubishi Heavy Industries). However, burning coal would lead to carbon dioxide emissions.

Fossil fuels would also be used to power machines in the increasing number of factories.

Ever since the Industrial Revolution took off in the 18th century, vast quantities of fossil

fuels have been used to power the economy and deliver unprecedented affluence to huge

numbers of people (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, 2010).

During Englands Industrial Revolution, lumber became scarce. A growing population needed

more land cleared for agriculture. A more affluent society demanded greater amounts of wood

for an ever-increasing number of applications. (Perlin, 2010). It was mainly used as a fuel

source and for constructing things such as early machines, wagons, boats, and so forth.

Eventually, The limiting factor, wood, had been usurped by an apparently limitless fossil fuel.

(Perlin, 2010) and people decided to use coal. The increased use of fossil fuels started to show;

England itself was covered in soot.

The typical form of the peppered moth (Biston betularia) has light-coloured wings

speckled with small dark spots, camouflage well-suited to hiding from predatory birds on

the bark of birch trees common to their habitat. But following the industrial revolution in

both Britain and North America, the air became polluted with dark soot, which covered

many surfaces, including trees. (Zakaib, 2011)

Coal consumption of homes and industries eventually led to severe air pollution. As a result,

there was a change in the peppered moth. At first, white peppered moths were higher in number

than black peppered moths. White moths were able to camouflage itself better, as birch trees and

surfaces were light in colour. As surfaces began to darken due to the increase in coal

consumption, white moths were easily spotted by birds of prey and their numbers went down.

The amount black peppered moths increased, bringing a change to the environment. This has

brought a big impact since human interaction with the environment has managed to cause such a

change in the biosphere. Although a change in the colour ratio of moths may not seem like much

of a negative impact, it was enough to make the peppered moth a textbook example of natural

selection (Zakaib, 2011).

Nowadays, more people are aware of climate change and the negative effects it brings. The

greenhouse effect, combined with increasing levels of greenhouse gases and the resulting global

warming, is expected to have profound implications (Lallanila, 2016). One effect is a rise in sea

levels. Coastal communities would be in most danger to this, as they would be the most

vulnerable to flooding. It will [also] cause extreme weather events (Lallanila, 2016) such as

hurricanes or droughts. Both are capable of causing harm to society, especially if they occur

more frequently. To mitigate against such events, one way to tackle the problem is to make

improvements with our current technology. If we implement greener options that dont rely on

burning fossil fuels, carbon emissions would go down. For example, maglev trains.

Maglev trains are trains that run based on magnetic levitation. They work with the idea that

opposing magnetic poles attract, and matching poles repel. There are two common forms of

magnetic levitation: Electrodynamic Suspension (EDS) and Electromagnetic Suspension (EMS)

According to an article by Jon Stewart (2014):

 In most cases, [in EMS trains] C-shaped arms underneath the train wrap around a

guideway. Electromagnets mounted on these arms lift it above a steel track when they are

energised. This type of train has the advantage that they can levitate when stationary

[but in EDS trains] both the rail and the train are magnetised. The magnets on the train

can be either electromagnets, or strong permanent magnets. The track has an array of

electromagnets, and when the train is moving at speed the train and track repel each

other. But the downside of EDS is that the train still needs wheels of some sort [and] at

low speeds not enough repulsive force is generated for the train to levitate.

In addition to a different method of operation, (mainly EMS type) maglev trains travel quieter,

and with less turbulence than on traditional steel wheel trains because the only source of

friction is air (Whyte, 2016). They are also a much greener alternative compared to

conventional light rail transit. Zhong Nan wrote an article regarding the future of Chinas railway

systems (2014):

Many of the opportunities we are being presented with arise from China's fast wealth

accumulation and urbanization. Many cities are upgrading their urban rail systems,

including introducing green technologies, extending their subways and building new

ones, said Hou Zhigang, general manager of Tangshan Railway Vehicle Co Ltd, a main

subsidiary of CNR in Hebei province because the train produces zero emissions unlike

conventional trains that run on diesel or coal, Hou said the maglev train is ideal and

environmentally friendly for large-scale transportation, especially in major cities or

tourism hot spots like Beijing.

Removing the need to use coal or diesel is an improvement that would greatly benefit the

environment, especially in Chinas major cities. As rail transport progresses more into maglev, a
decrease of carbon emissions will follow as less and less coal or diesel will be used. Also, more

railway systems would be built with, allowing for more people to take transit as opposed to

driving a car. It is also possible for Maglev trains to travel from New York to Los Angeles in

just under seven hours (Whyte, 2016). This makes them a great choice for long-distance travel.

Driving a car at those distances would take much longer and emit a large amount of greenhouse

gases. A plane, on the other hand, would be much faster but would burn plenty of fuel during

that time. Maglev provides a fast, environmentally friendly option over those two choices.

Aside from technological advancements, choosing to ride light rail transit over driving a car

could be a more environmentally friendly option.

"If the train is going anyway, and you're trying to decide which to use [road or rail], it

obviously makes sense to take the train," says Roger Kemp, former UK technical and

safety director for Alstom Transport, manufacturer of TGV and Eurostar. "The additional

energy consumption and emissions from you getting on are absolutely insignificant."

(Henley, 2013)

Although cars are a simple and easy way to travel, substituting the method of travel by taking a

train instead would reduce carbon emissions, especially if more people decide to drive less and

take the train more often. The reduction of individual drivers would mean that there would be

less cars on the street, reducing air pollution and traffic.

The Millennium Line Evergreen Extension is another step in reducing carbon emissions.

The Evergreen extension extended the Millennium Line by 11 kilometres and six

stations. The line now runs from VCC-Clark station in East Vancouver to Lafarge Lake-

Douglas in Coquitlam, via Burnaby and Port Moody. (Saltman, 2016).

This extension connects two other lines, the West Coast Line and the Expo Line (Saltman, 2016).

Instead of needing to drive from one line to another, passengers would only need to change lines

at the stations. People in the area also have access to the new stations, providing them with an

alternative to driving a car. According to a bus driver, Chaput, Densification is making it hard to

get anywhere in the Lower Mainland (Saltman, 2016). Since less people will be driving cars,

roads will be much more accessible for buses and other forms of transit.

Trains are a great mode of transportation that can allow travel from great distances at fast speeds.

However, trains have brought a negative impact in the environment. Trains can be traced back to

the first steam locomotive by Richard Trevithick (Ricci, 2012) but eventually developed into

much more efficient machines. With such developments came an increase in greenhouse gas

emissions (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, 2010). On the other hand, modern technological

advancements led to greener alternatives that help with keeping a more sustainable future. In the

end, technological advances in trains have brought both positive and negative impacts in society

but can be improved upon with newer advancements in technology to reduce harmful effects on

the environment.
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