Increased Amtrak Energy Efficiency Strengthens Case for More Trains

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from MassTransitMag:



Increased Amtrak Energy Efficiency Strengthens Case for More Trains


The National Association of Railroad Passengers recently lauded the latest federal figures on transportation energy consumption which showed a 2.2 percent increase in Amtrak's energy efficiency, making Amtrak 17.9 percent more efficient than airlines. Edition 27 of the annual Transportation Energy Data Book — compiled by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy — says Amtrak consumed 2,650 British Thermal Units (BTUs) per passenger-mile in 2006, versus 2,709 in 2005 — a 2.2 percent improvement.

"Passenger trains have always been a highly energy efficient mode of travel," said NARP Executive Director Ross B. Capon. "These figures and the public's increased desire to park their cars and ride trains underscore the importance of immediately increasing investments in our national passenger train system as a key component of any rational energy policy.

"Analysts consistently identify passenger trains as energy-efficient, but federal policy still encourages investing most resources in the least efficient forms of transportation. That is not the road to energy independence."

Certificated air carriers (domestic service) also improved — to 3,228 BTUs per passenger-mile in 2006 from 3,264 in 2005 — but the change in ratio was in Amtrak's favor. Amtrak used 17.9 percent less energy per passenger-mile than airlines in 2006 vs. 17.0 percent less in 2005. Conversely, airlines used 21.8 percent more energy than Amtrak in 2006 vs. 20.5 percent in 2005. The data are in table 2.14, "Energy Intensities of Nonhighway Passenger Modes, 1970-2006."

Meanwhile, Amtrak last month set an all-time record for monthly ridership, carrying 2,750,278 passengers, up 14 percent from July 2007. Individual routes reported increases as high as 43 percent.

"The traveling public is voting with their feet and with their dollars," noted Capon. "Unfortunately, a big part of the driving reduction means travel foregone rather than transferred to rail. With Amtrak in its sixth straight year of ridership growth, and nearing capacity of its existing fleet, it is long past time for Washington to balance public investments in transportation with our current and future energy needs - and obvious market demands."

Americans drove 4.7 percent fewer miles in June than a year earlier (U.S. DOT's August 13 release). June, 2008, was the eighth straight month of declining vehicle-miles traveled (VMT). DOT's July 28 release showed a decline of 29.8 billion vehicle miles traveled (VMT) on U.S. roads from January to May.


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