Ha, it was better to be on the Southwest Chief this morning than on the I-40, Amtrak sailed on through Flagstaff without any issues, while truckers are stuck on the I-40 still. #AZwx#Arizona#Amtrak
Dear #Bahnbubble, does anyone have literature on how much longer high-speed train routes are compared to as-the-crow-flies distance? As a function of distance between start and end point? In Europe?
We're trying to estimate how big the average "detour" fraction is.
Having been on my first train of the year today (still masking btw), I was enjoying looking out at the infrastructure rolling past the window (yes, I know!)
But I was dismayed – nay, shocked – to see this permissible speed indicator with a non-standard typeface 🙀
Not sure what font they’ve used – it’s not one of the usual suspects as far as I can tell – but it should, according to UK rail regulations, be the one described in BS 3693B–1964, as I’ve mocked up in the second image
Currently investigating the question... when travelling to a regional centre in Europe (like say: Valencia, Spain) that doesn't have overseas direct flights. Is it more CO2 efficient to fly the shortest possible distance (say, Paris or London) and then take a train. Or is some combination of hops best? There are no direct North America to Valencia flights, but most airports in Europe have flights to Valencia.
I am reminded that Spain's RENFE train service claims complete carbon neutrality and source all electricity from renewable sources. So that is a consideration.
Wrap your head around this:
The reported CO2 emissions from France's SNCF railway operator for a train from Paris to Valencia is: 5.9kg
The calculated CO2 emissions from one crossing on the Queen of Oak Bay, assuming the ship is full, from Horseshoe Bay (Vancouver) to Departure Bay (Nanaimo) is: 5.3kg
If I drive in an EV from Vancouver Island to Toronto in an effort to "save CO2” I actually produce MORE CO2 than flying there: 316kg EV vs 233kg flight.
(Note this is for a single person travelling -- multiple people in the EV would split the CO2, multiple people on the plane would multiply the CO2)
Why? Because Ferry+Alberta+Saskatchewan = 268kg all by themselves. If AB/SK had the same emissions as BC it would be 48kg EV vs 233kg flight.
If AB/SK/BC had the same emissions as MB then it would be 37kg vs 233kg flight.
So getting back to flying overseas. The best option appears to be TurboProp flight from Vancouver island to Calgary (90kg) then long-haul jet direct to Barcelona (378kg) = 468kg
and onto the train.
The moral of all this: Power Generation Matters!! If you live in a place that still uses Coal or NG power (or Diesel Boats!), focus on that! Also: Flying is Always High CO2 even when it's not the highest.