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Choose a train over a plane for short trips

Why This is Green

Air travel is now the fastest growing contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Not flying or avoiding a flight when there is an alternative is one of the biggest single steps that any individual can take to limit their impact on the environment.

Trains can be an excellent alternative to flying. They have the potential to carry many tons of weight at a considerable speed—and with fuel economies approaching hundreds of ton-miles per gallon. This is difficult to compare to the fuel economy of an average passenger jet as that is typically measured in miles per gallon, not ton-miles. Some back of the envelope calculations put average passenger jet fuel economy at about 3 ton-miles per gallon. It’s not officially sanctioned math, but anyone can see the difference between hundreds and less than 10 ton-miles per gallon. That’s some serious emissions reduction. Of course issues exist with burning jet fuel as well as the diesel used in most trains.

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How To

If you’re planning a short trip, consult train schedules before looking at flight information. You may even save time. Travel to and from airports and early check-in times often make short flights a longer experience than taking trains from and to centrally located stations.