Rail transport. trends in energy efficiency

The increasing cost and insecure future supply of diesel fuel have led the U.S. railroad industry to continuously improve on its already efficient use of energy. Among such improvements that are planned or in progress are a fuel-efficient version of a mainline engine, which should save 13,200 gal/yr of fuel; and lightweight coal cars and freight-car trucks, which offer fuel-saving opportunities. The use of synthetic fuels such as methanol-from-coal or all-electric locomotive on a broad scale is unlikely within the next 20 yr, but an increased use of synthetic fuels in other large fuel-consuming transport modes, notably cars, would ease the rail industry's future diesel fuel supply problems. Other fuel-saving factors to consider, such as proper train-operating procedures and the use of the best routes; and the new design of rail cars are also discussed.