Railroads: The Hidden Polluters of the U. S.

The U.S. freight rail industry, often seen as an eco-friendly way to move goods, has a dirty secret. It emits more nitrogen oxide, a key smog-causing pollutant, than all the nation's coal-fired power plants combined. This is a big deal because nitrogen oxide is linked to health issues and environmental problems.

The Biggest Player: BNSF Railway

One of the biggest players in this industry is BNSF Railway. It claims to have the cleanest fleet in North America. But the numbers tell a different story. In 2024, BNSF alone produced about 161,500 tons of nitrogen oxide. That's a lot of pollution coming from one company.

Aging Locomotives and Reluctance to Innovate

The problem is that the rail industry has been slow to replace its aging locomotives. The average age of a U.S. locomotive is about 28 years. Older locomotives are less efficient and produce more pollution. The industry has been hesitant to invest in new, cleaner models because of fears that future regulations could make their investments obsolete.

The Cost of Inaction

This hesitation is not just bad for the environment. It's also bad for public health. The EPA estimates that railroad locomotive pollution causes about $48 billion in healthcare costs and 3,100 premature deaths annually in the United States. That's a high price to pay for a lack of innovation.

The Cleanest Option?

The rail industry argues that it is the cleanest option for moving freight over land. They point to data showing that locomotives are more fuel-efficient than trucks. However, this doesn't change the fact that they are still a significant source of pollution.

BNSF's Fuel Economy

BNSF, for example, has the worst fuel economy among the country's six major railroads. In 2024, it burned 1.14 gallons of diesel for every ton of weight it moved 1,000 miles. That's more than its competitors. BNSF attributes this to the fact that it handles more intermodal freight, which is time-sensitive and requires faster movement.

Fear of Regulations

The main reason railroads have stopped spending big money on new locomotives is fear of new regulations. They are worried that new standards, including proposed zero-emissions standards in California, could quickly make their investments obsolete. This fear has led to a significant drop in the industry's replacement rate for locomotives.

Lobbying Against Clean Technologies

The rail industry has also lobbied hard against the adoption of clean technologies. They argue that battery-electric locomotives are not powerful enough to move tons of freight over long distances. However, other countries like China, India, and Russia have successfully implemented electrified freight locomotives.

Conclusion

The U.S. freight rail industry has a pollution problem. It's time for the industry to step up and invest in cleaner, more efficient technologies. The health of the public and the environment depends on it.