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Tips About Trains & Model Trains
Trains and the Environment
While trains do offer a necessary service
because they haul materials and people, there are plenty of
concerns about the damages they do to the environment. As with
any other type of industry there seems to be controversy about
where to draw the line. People in society definitely want the
benefits that come with trains transporting goods and people but
are they willing to sacrifice the quality of the air they breath
in order to have it?
The biggest concern with trains and the environment is the
amount of pollution they create. Designs have come a long way on
train engines in order to reduce the amount of pollution they
release. Many railway companies also continue to plant new trees
in the areas along the train tracks. These trees help to remove
the amount of carbon monoxide in the air. You may have seen
pretty flower gardens next to train crossings and they are there
to help the environment as well as to give you something nice to
enjoy as you drive by.
Another type of pollution that trains are labeled with is noise
pollution. People who live in areas where trains frequently pass
through often complain about the noise. This is one of the
biggest issues that has to be dealt with when a railway company
is considering laying new railroad tracks.
Businesses complain about the noise level as well because they
feel it often affects productivity and it can be annoying to
potential customers and prevent them from coming in. Changes are
being implemented by many railway companies to reduce the amount
of noise and vibrations that come from the trains.
Trains consume large amounts of natural resources that can’t be
replaced. This is a concern because so many trains are in
operation each day. Alternatives for creating the necessary
energy are being evaluated. Some of the commuter trains in many
cities operate on electricity instead of diesel fuel. While this
helps reduce the amount of pollution in the air, it still
depletes the natural resources we have available.
However, research has shown that mass transit services such as
trains in large cities significantly reduces the amount of
pollution in the air because it removes so many individual cars
from the roads each day. Instead of thousands of people using
their own vehicle to commute to and from work they all ride the
same train transit system.
Environmentalists become very upset when forests and other land
areas are cleared in order to lay new stretches of railway
tracks. While the additional routes help get materials and
people to their destinations, it removes trees and robs animals
of their natural habitat. Most railways do all they can to live
the area intact and to only remove what is necessary for the
train to get through the area.
Railway companies are often accused of wasting materials that
have to be dealt with. In the past couple of decades though most
railway companies have become quite conservative with their
materials. The steel they use for the railroad tracks and trains
is recycled. They also reuse up to 60% of the ballast that is
placed underneath the railway tracks.
The Federal government keeps a close eye on the activities of
all the various railway companies. They understand they are an
essential piece of keeping our economy strong, but they expect
the railway companies to do their part for the environment as
well. New areas of technology are continue implemented in order
to benefit the railway companies and the environment.
It is important to understand that it takes time to develop such
changes though. Research has to be conducted to measure the
actual benefits that will be offered. The research is very
expensive and implementing the changes is expensive as well. The
railways struggle to offer low prices for passengers as well as
hauling freight, but as their own expenses continue to increase
with efforts to protect the environment a large portion of those
expenses will be trickling down.