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U.S. trains take longer now than 30-60 years ago (video)
Michael Tomasky, Guardian
European rail en route to America?

American editor-at-large, Michael Tomasky, wonders why a US train route the Beatles took in 1964 takes more time in 2009
(8 June 2009)

Oil's Ascent To Ground Airlines Again
Matt Cavallaro, BetterTrades via Forbes
Don't look now, but oil is barreling toward familiar (higher) territory for the second consecutive summer. Crude prices have skyrocketed 130% since last winter, and the summer driving season isn't yet in full gear.

Airlines have cruised since the March 9 stock market low, but brewing headwinds--like oil's breakneck push higher--could force stocks to lower altitudes.

Oil has heated up to a seven-month high, and major carriers like Delta Air Lines ( DAL - news - people ) and UAL ( UAUA - news - people ) are feeling the burn. While oil's precipitous drop from $147 per barrel last summer did breathe new air under their wings, some carriers are still paying the price for their hedged positions.
(4 June 2009)

Environmental assessment of passenger transportation should include infrastructure and supply chains (PDF - scientific paper)
Mikhail V Chester1 and Arpad Horvath, Environmental Research Letters, IOP Publishing
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, 760 Davis Hall,
Berkeley, CA 94720, USA

Abstract
To appropriately mitigate environmental impacts from transportation, it is necessary for decision makers to consider the life-cycle energy use and emissions. Most current decision-making relies on analysis at the tailpipe, ignoring vehicle production, infrastructure provision, and fuel production required for support. We present results of a comprehensive life-cycle energy, greenhouse gas emissions, and selected criteria air pollutant emissions inventory for automobiles, buses, trains, and airplanes in the US, including vehicles, infrastructure, fuel production, and supply chains. We find that total life-cycle energy inputs and greenhouse gas emissions contribute an additional 63% for onroad, 155% for rail, and 31% for air systems over vehicle tailpipe operation. Inventorying criteria air pollutants shows that vehicle non-operational components often dominate total emissions. Life-cycle criteria air pollutant emissions are between 1.1 and 800 times larger than vehicle operation. Ranges in passenger occupancy can easily change the relative performance of modes.
(8 June 2009)