[crisdux]

Sure, maybe that explains why Europe has made more progress with their inland transportation network. But what I said is still true. Transporting freight via river systems is cheaper and greener than using road and rail. The gap will widen as energy and transportation costs continue to increase.

The United States has the largest internal waterways system in the world, and we basically only use it for bulk goods.

[bell-cot]

> Transporting freight via river systems is cheaper and greener than using road and rail.

True - so long as the navigable waterways reach the points which you need to ship from & to. And the cargo isn't particularly time-sensitive. And exceptional droughts do not lower the rivers so far that "navigable" is only on paper, and not on the no-longer-there water. That last issue is getting to be a major problem this year.

Edit: Also recall that in the northern parts of the U.S., even the largest navigable waterways may close down for a few months every winter, due to ice / winter storms / etc.

[JAlexoid]

I disagree that rail in US is much more polluting, than internal waterway transport.

In Europe - yes, but not US.

[noahtallen]

I don’t understand: why would rail pollution be worse in Europe, which has electrification initiatives for even freight rail, than in the US, where the rail duopolies and monopolies use old diesel locomotives and never invest in meaningful system upgrades?

[LargoLasskhyfv]

Oh, really? https://www.railway-technology.com/news/wabtec-union-pacific...

[noahtallen]

Fair, but still diesel.

[JAlexoid]

Diesel electric engines are actually VERY efficient.

Even the "old diesel" locomotives are still easily 40% efficient.

[noahtallen]

Ok, sure. But wouldn’t a large natural gas electric turbine be even more efficient?

The thing about electric motors is the energy source is abstracted. So even if you’re generating electricity with gas, it’s usually much more efficient than a small localized engine.

So I think my point stands, if EU is electrifying its networks, I don’t understand how the US could possibly be more efficient.

[ROTMetro]

If you have a major spill on a river, to what area is the impact contained, versus if you have a major spill on land?

[eppp]

The largest waterway in the system also lacks water at the moment.