Shipping by rail instead of truck reduces pollution (on average) by two-thirds, noise by one half, uses only 29% of the fuel and produces only 23% as much greenhouse gasses.
In 2008, U.S. freight railroads moved a ton of freight an average of 457 miles per gallon (up from 436 in 2007). Rail fuel efficiency is up 94 percent since 1980, thanks to more efficient locomotives, reduced idleing, and improved train-handling techniques. Greenhouse gas emissions are directly related to fuel consumption.
44% of greenhouse gasses in Vermont are produced by transportation (nationally, it's 28%). Nationally, freight railroads produced 0.7% of greenhouse gas emissions, despite hauling 43% of freight ton-miles. Trucks produced 5.7% of greenhouse gasses and automobiles, 20% (automobiles are 64% of the transportation contribution nationally to greenhouse gasses).
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Governor’s Commission on Climate Change: Inventory and Forecast, June 2007
New Locomotives will be even more green. New standards will cut particulate emissions by up to
90 percent and nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 80 percent.
Most of the facts on this page come from the American Association of Railroads
See also this Wall Street Journal article: Railroads Roll with a Greener Approach (5/29/08)
Factcheck.org on Energy efficiency of freight rail: http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/can_a_freight_train_really_move_a.html
Freight Rail Carbon Calculator from the American Association of Railroads
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