As a young urbanite, I don’t own a car. Indeed, cars are very expensive nowadays – with oil costing more than 1.50 euro per liter, or $8 a gallon – and public transportation make it quite easy to ditch your car in Paris. However, I own a computer. I believe it is making a statement …
Do computers outpace cars as vehicle of self-expression ? Read More »
American high speed rail supporters, rejoice ! To Ecogeek : ” Vice President Joe Biden announced that the Obama administration is investing $53 billion in high speed rail development over the next six years.” Yes, you read it right : President Obama is really willing to invest nearly 40 billion euros in high speed rail …
USA unveil $53 billion high speed rail investments Read More »
The French National Railways want us to believe their service is so good you will ditch your car and take only trains. At first I thought so as the SNCF indeed enabled me to avoid a tonne of CO2 emissions in 2008. But between their often prohibitive tariffs and their repetitive and long-lasting strikes I am …
I previously noted that the United States have a plan of creating ten high speed rail corridors by 2020. Even if this is a good idea, it isn’t enough as it won’t enable Americans to travel from coast to coast. This might be done by 2030 according to the US High Speed Rail Network which advocates …
It seems that trains and other mass transit systems have a bright future in front of them. As climate change and energy scarcity increase, alternatives to cars and planes are sought. What if a new generation of trains could help in solving both problems ? TreeHugger dedicated lately a certain amount of articles to such …
Trains, a brilliant solution for the 21st century Read More »
This year I avoided the emission of more than a tonne of carbon dioxide – more likely 1,500 kilograms – by simply taking the train on various occasions like business or leisure trips. Fast trains in France – like the TGV on the left – are powered by electricity, which is 90% low carbon. Relatively …
Two weeks ago I took some vacations and visited my family near Nancy. Additionally, I went to the renewable energies fair in Paris. It was also the opportunity for me to have a most interesting meeting. All this brought me to travel up to 1,600 kilometers (approx. 1,000 miles). By choosing the train instead of …
How I avoided 200 kgs of CO2 emissions in ten days Read More »
This is the speed achieved today by the French Train à Grande Vitesse (high speed train) hence breaking the previous world record of 515 kph dated from 1990. This world record is interesting as train is releasing much less greenhouse gases than planes.
