[MarcelGerber]

At least for freight trains and normal passenger trains (especially diesel), that's probably true.

High speed trains usually use induction brakes (regenerative braking) and as such, they don't produce nearly as much brake dust. Also, freight trains generally don't need to brake very often, since the tracks are free for kilometers to come most of the time.

In general, trains are of course far from emission-free, but as they can transport way more passengers/freight the emissions per person / tonne of freight are still lower than cars or trucks.

[ehnto]

Electrified rail also gives the promise of eventually being low emissions when we switch to greener power plant. So it benefits from scale economics twice right now, and will seamlessly switch to entirely green when the power plants do.

[MarcelGerber]

That's true.

In Germany, Deutsche Bahn boasts that its electric long-distance trains are 100% powered by renewable energy. There are some asterisks to that, but it's still a great thing.

So yes, electrifying lines really has many advantages: * it allows for high-speed trains * it enables trains equipped with regenerative braking * its trains are driving more efficiently (most diesel locomotives actually are diesel-electric, meaning they have a diesel generator powering an electric drivetrain) * it allows the trains to be powered by renewable energy

All these points drive the overall carbon footprint down in one way or another.

[saagarjha]

Plus I would think that they're quieter?

[rsynnott]

MUCH quieter. I occasionally use a diesel commuter train; shockingly noisy compared to the usual electrics.