Pollution-free rail freight to counter road advocates
Gareth Dennis’s arguments for not allowing freight to switch from rail to road are perfectly valid ( RAIL 844).
They are, however, the same arguments that should result in freight being taken off the roads and onto rail now - but this isn’t happening. Regardless of the cost to society, most freight (as we know) goes by road.
Electric trucks, platooning and even autonomous trucks are a threat in themselves. But the biggest worry is that with electric trucks allegedly capable of travelling hundreds of miles on a single charge, road haulage will become greener than rail.
Imagine if one of the larger hauliers were to replace all their vehicles with electric ones. Assuming the facts are correct and they can do the same work as a diesel vehicle, that company will be able to provide a greener and possibly cheaper alternative to rail. Any concerns about accident rates, damage to the roads and congestion will be the same as they are now - largely disregarded.
Money talks, and I’m sure Tesco and the likes would be keen to improve their ‘green credentials’ (and save money) by switching to electric vehicles platooning up and down the M6! Of course, these platoons from Daventry would bypass Mossend and travel direct to the appropriate store!
The diesel locomotive would be described by those members of the road haulage industry who have always advocated that freight should go by road as a filthy polluting thing, belching out nitrogen oxides and particulates, and environmentally unfriendly compared with the new electric truck!
This is what needs to be addressed. With new locomotives coming into use with a 30-year lifespan, how will they be looked upon in (say) 15 or 20 years’ time, when trucking could well have changed out of all proportion?
However, it is all very well having these trucks running on flat straight roads through the Nevada desert. How will they cope at night in the winter, with lights and heater working travelling over Shap and Beattock?
There are so many factors to consider, and it may well be that the autonomous electric truck just doesn’t take off here. Even so, serious consideration needs to be given to making rail freight as pollution-free as possible, as soon as possible, just in case!