Do trains emit more CO2 than planes?

National rail emits around 35 grams per kilometer. A domestic flight emits 246 grams. So the footprint of taking the train is around 14% of a flight: [ 35 / 246 * 100 = 14%]. Taking the Eurostar emits around 4 grams of CO2 per passenger kilometer, compared to 154 grams from a short-haul flight.



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The calculator uses a figure of 100 g/mile CO2. This is based on an overall figure of 49 g/km i.e. 80 g/mile (or 0.080 kg/mile) - from the AEA Report [1]. This gives a range from 19 g/km to 71 g/km for intercity trains depending on route, engine type (diesel or electric) and passenger load (ranging from 44% to 68%).

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According to the 2021 U.S. Department of Energy Data Book, Amtrak is 46% more energy efficient than traveling by car and 34% more energy efficient than domestic air travel.

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Trains consume less energy and produce less harmful pollutants than either car or air travel. Hopping on an Amtrak train will save you gas and daily wear and tear on your car. It also reduces the ever-increasing traffic congestion on the roads and in the skies.

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Finally, the plane is the most polluting means of transport and the one that generates the most greenhouse emissions.

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Go by train – your most sustainable travel choice Besides walking and biking, you can rest assured that train travel is your greenest option. No matter if electric or diesel-powered. Compared to cars and airplanes, trains emit between 66 and 75 percent fewer carbon emissions.

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In fact, unless you're looking to venture from Los Altos to LA off-road through state parks the whole way—in a Hummer with Tonka-truck mud tires—driving is generally greener than flying.

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These massive, track-mounted vehicles, which use a diesel generator to power electric motors and move rail cars carrying cargo or passengers, are major polluters, responsible for a growing share of the emissions that increase cancer risk, shorten lives and worsen smog across California.

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The cleanest modes of transportation are walking and biking. Walking to and from the store will not only get you closer to your daily step goal, it will not contribute to air pollution. If you biked one kilometer to the store, your bike's emissions score would be 8.

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Air gets polluted when pollutants are released into atmosphere. Car, bus and bike releases smoke and some hamful gases to the atmosphere thereby causing air pollution. Bicycle is the only means of transport that do not release any pollutants.

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Take a non-stop flight I know that direct flights normally come in that much more expensive, but since a large part of emissions come from take-off and landing, non-stop flights are often the best sustainable flying option.

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We have lots of passenger trains in the USA, the vast majority are commuter trains on the East Coast, and some around other major cities. If you mean long distance, cross country passenger trains then the answer is simple, the distance is too great, and there are far better options for travel than taking the train.

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But Over Long Distance, Airfare Is More Economical Generally, short trips cost less by train, but it's more economical to fly for long journeys.

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Aviation is responsible for between 2pc and 3pc of global carbon emissions. And Ms Thunberg continues to refuse to fly because of the impact on the environment.

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The luxury sports car brand Bugatti received the highest NEDC with an average of 0.52 kg/km — much higher than any other brand. In second place was Rolls Royce with 0.35 kg/km, followed by Lamborghini and Ferrari with similar NEDC data. But vehicles don't have to be expensive to produce high levels of pollution.

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