May 9th is National Train Day

On May 10, 1869, in Promontory Summit, Utah, the "golden spike" was driven into the final tie that joined 1,776 miles of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railways, ceremonially creating the nation′s first transcontinental railroad.

Now, 140 years later, there’s never been a better time to take the train.  Huge crowds and the frustrations that go with them burden our highways and airports.  And trains are more energy-efficient than either autos or airplanes.

Transportation generates about 1/3 of the greenhouse gases emitted in the country. Intercity rail travel uses about 20 percent less energy measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units) of energy per passenger mile than car or air travel.

Freight rail transportation is one of the most energy efficient forms of surface transportation. Each freight train can move one ton of freight 436 miles on a single gallon of diesel fuel. It also helps control air emissions. If 10 percent of long-haul freight now moving by truck moved by rail, annual greenhouse gas emissions would fall by more than 12 million tons. American railroads move 40 percent of our nation's freight, but account for just 2.2 percent of all transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions, and just 0.6 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

In 2003 alone, railroads increased their efficiency by consuming 2.8 billion fewer gallons of fuel in the United States — and emitted 31.5 million fewer tons of CO2 — than they would have if their efficiency had remained constant since 1980.

Amtrak is about more than providing energy-efficient transportation. It’s a mode of transportation that will help protect the environment, in ways big and small.

The national passenger rail service is reducing its use of petroleum products, improving efficiency and reducing air emissions. By reducing the amount of “idling” time on diesel locomotives; using dynamic and regenerative braking systems to return energy to the grid on electric locomotives; employing bio-lubricants in hydraulic systems; and using lighter and more aerodynamic vehicle carriers on the Auto Train®, Amtrak is moving toward a more sustainable transportation system.

Amtrak's partnership with Carbonfund.org gives customers the opportunity to purchase carbon “offsets,”  allowing them to travel carbon-neutral for their travel on Amtrak. The offsets provided through the partnership have three areas of investment focus: renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation.

On May 9 in Los Angeles and other cities across the country, show your love for trains at Union Station, from 10am to 3pm, and check out all the cool things at Los Angeles’ celebration.