<
https://theconversation.com/australias-freight-used-to-go-by-train-not-truck-heres-how-we-can-bring-back-rail-and-cut-emissions-219332>
"Until the 1960s, railways dominated freight across every distance bar the
shortest. Much freight went by sea, and some by truck.
But then trucking grew, and grew, and grew, while rail’s share of freight
outside mined ore has shrunk and domestic shipping freight is diminished. By
the mid-70s, trains carried only about 23% of domestic non-bulk freight (such
as consumer goods) and trucks took 65.5%.
By 2021–22, trains took just 16.7% and trucks took almost 80%. Just 2% of
freight between Melbourne and Sydney now goes by rail, while road freight is
projected to keep growing.
That’s a problem, given heavy trucks are big emitters. Rail uses roughly a
third of the diesel as a truck would to transport the same weight. Transport
now accounts for 21% of Australia’s emissions. While electric cars and the
long-awaited fuel efficiency standards are projected to cut this by seven
million tonnes, trucking emissions are expected to keep growing.
It won’t be easy to change it. But if we improve sections of railway track on
the east coast, we could at least make rail faster and more competitive."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
