Amtrak and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

1. Amtrak and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

2. Summary • Overview • Energy • Emissions

3. Amtrak and the Environment • Energy • Amtrak’s focus is on development of fast, frequent and energy-efficient “corridor service” over shorter routes (< 500 miles) • Amtrak is experiencing a traffic boom – and it has moved more passengers while cutting energy use by almost 19% • On a passenger-mile basis, Amtrak is 17% more efficient than domestic airline travel and 21% more efficient than auto travel • Emissions • The transportation industry emits about 28% of America’s carbon output • Passenger railroads (intercity and commuter) are one of the cleanest forms of transportation, emitting only 0.2% of the transportation industry’s greenhouse gasses • Amtrak has long been an industry leader in environmental initiatives, and was an early member of the Chicago Climate Exchange • Amtrak’s plan to cut its emissions by 2010 is the largest voluntary proportional reduction in the United States “Locomotives” includes both freight and passenger emissions Source: EPA Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gasses and Sinks, 1990-2005

4. Global Climate Change and the Transportation Sector • As policymakers address the issue of climate change, there will be a heightened effort to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions • Thirty-six states have climate action plans completed or in progress • There are approximately 150 emissions-related federal legislative proposals (57 Senate/ 90 House) • Some policy makers are calling for an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050. • About 28% of greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation sector. Highway travel generates 75% of carbon emissions and consumes 75% of total sector energy use. • Energy efficiency is the lowest-cost alternative to developing low-carbon and zero-carbon alternative fuels

5. Global Climate Change and the Transportation Sector • Air transportation produces significant levels of CO2. Emissions effects are greater at high altitudes. • Airliner fuel use triples during the takeoff climb, and sometimes in descent, making short distance trips inefficient • Rail travel could efficiently replace short distance air travel and longer distance highway trips, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions • Adopt policies that reward and encourage energy efficient, low-emissions transportation modes like passenger rail

6. Amtrak’s place in domestic transportation • Amtrak is the nation’s principal intercity rail passenger carrier • Operates 21,000 route-miles of service in 46 states • Carried over 24 million riders in FY 06 • Amtrak operations parallel I-95 north of Richmond, and serve the same localities as six of the ten most congested airports in the U.S. • Amtrak service parallels I-5 between Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles and San Diego • Amtrak’s electrified line between Washington, DC and New York City carries more passengers between those two cities than all of the air carriers combined • Auto-Train service between Virginia and Florida literally removes 105,439 cars per year from the I-95 corridor (train carries cars and passengers) • Amtrak’s development strategy envisions partnerships with state governments to develop fast, frequent service over corridors of fewer than 500 miles • Could replace the least efficient and most polluting airline services

7. Amtrak’s National System

8. Top Ten Corridors by Ridership, FY 2002-2006 Corridor Ridership (2002-6) Length 2002-2006 Change YTD Change DC-NYC-Boston 46,622,654 457 mi +3.2% +6.3% San Diego- 11,427,543 128 mi +54.1% +1.6% San Luis Obispo Capitol (San-Jose- 5,908,322 133 mi +17% +14.3% Sacramento) New York-Albany 4,521,811 141 mi +3.2% +4.7% Oakland-Bakersfield 3,811,284 318 mi +8.9% -0.4% Phil.-Harrisburg 3,379,198 104 mi +40.4% +20.0% Vancouver-Eugene 3,017,673 187 mi +8.3% +8.3% Chicago-Milwaukee 2,387,377 86 mi +43.6% +2.7% Washington- 2,141,799 187 mi -7.6% -0.7% Newport News Chicago-Pontiac 1,837,415 281 mi +46.3% +2.7% Green highlight indicates corridor is also one of the ten fastest-growing corridors in FY 07

9. What does it take to move one person one mile? Amtrak is 17% more efficient than domestic airline travel Amtrak is 21% more efficient than automobile travel All measures are in British Thermal Units of energy per passenger mile All data as of 2005; U.S. DoE, “Transportation Energy Data Book,” 26th Edition

10. Comparative Energy Intensities Source: U.S. DoE, “Transportation Energy Data Book, Edition 26 – 2007”

11. Amtrak reconciles efficiency and growth Amtrak has effected a significant reduction in its energy consumption while increasing ridership Source: U.S. DoE, “Transportation Energy Data Book, Edition 26 – 2007” NOTE: Ridership for all years restated to reflect NJ Transit assumption of NJ/NY Clocker trains in FY05.

12. Amtrak and Climate Change • Amtrak has a longstanding interest in innovative methods for combating global warming • Amtrak joined the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) in 2003, the year it began trading emissions • Amtrak passengers will soon be able to purchase carbon offsets with internet ticket purchases • Realized efficiencies also reduce emissions • Diesel fuel economies translate into greenhouse gas reductions • Climate exchanges allow Amtrak to convert reductions into capital funds, enabling further improvements and efficiencies • Amtrak is committed to the largest voluntary proportional emissions reduction plan in the United States (Source: CCX) • Advanced rail technologies could further reduce emissions • Eurostar estimates that an electrified high speed train emits between 1/10 and ¼ of the carbon dioxide of a plane.

13. Emissions Comparisons Auto data assumes single occupancy. Aircraft data includes radiative forcing from high altitude release. Calculations made with 2006 data provided by the World Resources Institute

14. Backup Slides

15. Amtrak has significantly reduced fossil fuel use In July 2003, Amtrak ended its contract with the MBTA Commuter services in Massachsuetts, which accounted for approximately 11 million gallons of diesel fuel per year. Amtrak reduced its diesel fuel use by almost 15% between 1999 and 2006

16. Amtrak’s voluntary commitment to emissions reduction • Amtrak is committed to a phased reduction in its diesel emissions levels • The baseline for the reduction is an average of 1998-2001 emissions levels Emissions Commitment in Metric Tons of CO2 Fiscal Year Note: 2002 not an inventory year; part of pre- 2004 emissions due to a since-discontinued MBTA commuter contract

17. Planned reductions will be a phased process PHASE I PHASE II Largest percentage reduction of any voluntary commitment in the United States (Source: CCX)

18. South End of the NEC Air/Rail Shares (NYC-DC) Source: Air-Rail Shares Report

19. North End of the NEC Air/Rail Shares (Boston-NYC) Source: Air-Rail Shares Report

20. Proposed Corridors

21. Top Ten Corridors by Growth Corridor Change from FY06 Length Ridership Frequency Chicago-Carbondale +66.3% 310mi 208,723 6 Chicago-St. Louis +54.7% 284mi 373,036 10 Chicago-Quincy +40.8% 258mi 154,743 6 Chicago-Indianapolis +29.8% 196mi 24,031 2 Keystone +20.0% 104mi 905,187 29 Vermonter +16.4% 611mi 58,717 2 Capitol Corridor +14.3% 120mi 1,333,981 32 Adirondack +8.9% 381mi 93,071 2 Cascades +8.3% 467mi 622,590 12 NEC +6.3% 457 mi 9,185,631 158 Green highlight indicates increases in service frequency - frequencies include long distance trains, where appropriate