Electric trains are quieter, more reliable than diesel. New study finds they’re healthier, too

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By Kara Manke, UC Berkeley News. 

Excerpt: ...according to a new study, Caltrain’s switch from diesel to electric trains in late summer of 2024 dramatically boosted the air quality aboard the commuter rail line. The findings, published today in the journal Environmental Science and Technology Letters, showed that electrifying the system reduced riders’ exposure to the carcinogen black carbon by an average of 89%, and significantly reduced ambient black carbon concentrations within and around the San Francisco station. ...The majority of U.S. commuter trains are still powered by diesel fuel, despite the fact that electric trains are quieter, more reliable and produce fewer greenhouse gases than diesel locomotives. Apte hopes the study motivates more U.S. municipalities to follow the lead of Asian and European countries in electrifying their railways.... 

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2024 was the hottest year on record, breaching a critical climate goal and capping 10 years of unprecedented heat

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How will China impact the future of climate change? You might be surprised

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