Over the past few years, the push to go green has led to the development of many new environmental technologies. Sometimes, though, reinventing the old ones is still the best way to go. Take trains, for example. The gentleman who made this video believes that high-speed trains could go a long way towards alleviating the pollution caused by domestic travel. He’s right, of course, and many countries are already making widespread use of high-speed electric trains.
For one thing, they’re electric. Right there we have a chance to cut out pollution and greenhouse gases altogether. We would have to provide clean, renewable energy sources to power the trains, of course— but simply covering the roofs of train stations with solar panels would do the trick.
Also, if you do any traveling at all you will know that trains are the most comfortable way to travel. There’s lots of leg room, it’s a smooth ride, and you can get up and walk around. The only advantage that planes have over old-fashioned trains is that they’re faster— and if you factor in wait times and security checks at the airport, plus the time it takes to reach an airport, for shorter trips that advantage all but disappears. Also, train stations, usually found in the centre of town— even in some of the smallest towns— are much more accessible than airports.
High speed trains are definitely the way of the future, and I agree— the Canadian government needs to get serious about getting some, and soon!
