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Really? Why not develop something you can use to stop wasting fossile fuels on trucking stuff around? A rail system using small electrical vehicles instead of d

Really? Why not develop something you can use to stop wasting fossile fuels on trucking stuff around? A rail system using small electrical vehicles instead of diesel would make more sense with an option to move people as well. Since I live in EU that would only make sense for this to be multinational and therefore probably never get built. Also it would require our leaders to think about the future and not just about how to get more votes.

Valgrim 6y ago
Most high speed trains are actually powered by electricity. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_high-speed_trains https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_high-speed_trains First-and-last mile delivery need the flexibility of trucks, there's no way around it. So an expanded railway system and electric trucks are the way to go I believe.
- wojciii 6y ago
  Not in Denmark where I live. Most (I think) trains are running on Diesel as our politicians decides not to electrify all parts of the country. When travelling on our highway (e-45) I see many trucks which are not first/last mile but more likely in the 1000 km range. I think that we should consider smaller trains which cost more to establish but could use some of the power getting wasted (wind/solar) at times where it is generated but the demand is low.
  - bobthepanda 6y ago
    The problem here is that Europe optimized for passenger rail (so the rail is fast, which is good for people, but expensive per mile, which is bad for freight) and the US optimized for freight with the reverse positives and negatives. The only country that I’m aware of that did both great on the same network was China, but they ran into capacity issues so they spent hundreds of billions to move people onto a brand new dedicated passenger high speed rail network and now the legacy slow one has more room for freight.
  - charwalker 6y ago
    That was the leadership call. In the US, current leadership might do the same. It's likely a national poll would support an electric solution though.

Valgrim 6y ago

Most high speed trains are actually powered by electricity. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_high-speed_trains https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_high-speed_trains First-and-last mile delivery need the flexibility of trucks, there's no way around it. So an expanded railway system and electric trucks are the way to go I believe.

wojciii 6y ago
Not in Denmark where I live. Most (I think) trains are running on Diesel as our politicians decides not to electrify all parts of the country. When travelling on our highway (e-45) I see many trucks which are not first/last mile but more likely in the 1000 km range. I think that we should consider smaller trains which cost more to establish but could use some of the power getting wasted (wind/solar) at times where it is generated but the demand is low.
- bobthepanda 6y ago
  The problem here is that Europe optimized for passenger rail (so the rail is fast, which is good for people, but expensive per mile, which is bad for freight) and the US optimized for freight with the reverse positives and negatives. The only country that I’m aware of that did both great on the same network was China, but they ran into capacity issues so they spent hundreds of billions to move people onto a brand new dedicated passenger high speed rail network and now the legacy slow one has more room for freight.
- charwalker 6y ago
  That was the leadership call. In the US, current leadership might do the same. It's likely a national poll would support an electric solution though.