Trains play a vital role in transforming communities and reducing emissions

Host of Coffs Harbour's Changing Climates series, Dr Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, explains how our November climate is changing. Plus, learn how trains can help to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Experts observe that Australia's climate is warming.

Our world is changing.

Fossil fuels from human activities are warming our planet and changing our climate.

For example, the hottest November night in NSW now sits at 21.6C - an increase of around 2C since the early 1970s.

While this may sound small, even a single degree of warming has major consequences, leading to more extreme weather events.

Immediate and large scale greenhouse gas emissions reductions are required to limit these impacts.

Fortunately, we are days away from this year's United Nations summit on climate change, more commonly known as the Conference of Parties (COP).

COP27 will host delegates from 198 countries to review progress and discuss how to tackle climate change better.

So how does Australia measure up?

Data shows Australia currently produces around 487 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year with transport being the third highest contributor.

The good news is the transport sector, and trains in particular, can help get Australia on the right track.

Founding director of the Public Transport Research Group at Monash University, Professor Graham Currie said trains were great for lowering emissions because they were far more carbon-friendly than cars.

"Transport is dominated by the private car, and that is a very problematic aspect of emissions," he said.

"Public transport is a solution to this because it is much more efficient for carrying people."

Evidence suggests a single train line can move up to 50,000 people an hour whereas a freeway lane has a capacity of just 2000 people per hour.

By carrying so many commuters with each carriage, trains are rated the most energy efficient form of road transport.

Opting to travel by train instead of car for medium-length trips can cut individual transport emissions by as much as 80 per cent.

Trains make transport accessible for all

Not only are trains an express route to an eco-friendly future, they're also bound to make transport in cities more accessible and affordable for everyone.

Graham Currie said trains are essential for closing gaps in our transport systems, and ensuring all Australians are able to get from point A to B with ease.

"Public transport encourages denser cities, which are more productive and can have better livability," he said.

So, with greater investment in trains across metro and regional areas, we can boost liveability by making employment, health services, education and entertainment more accessible.

This will offer reliable transportation for younger Australians and those unable to drive or afford a car.

Additionally, travelling by train or bus offers a potential saving of more than $10,000 a year in fuel, registration and maintenance costs compared to cars.

By keeping more cars off the road, a single train of commuters can also clean up congestion in our major cities and save $26,000 a year in air pollution costs.

With all Australians positioned to profit from improving our public transport, Mr Currie said trains were vital for "bringing these co-benefits together."

"Public transport is about reducing emissions and creating cities that work with all the objectives we're trying to achieve environmentally, economically and productively," he said.

Future railways will help us fight climate change

While trains are already helping our communities, our railways still have capacity for improvement.

Since Australia's first steam powered rail line opened in Melbourne in the 1850s, only 11 per cent of our heavy railways have been converted to electric.

This is concerning when diesel trains, which still make up the vast majority of our fleets, produce twice the emissions of an electric model.

Additionally, Australia was ranked among the bottom 10 countries for the energy efficiency of our transport industry by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

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However, future projections are looking more positive.

In 2017, NSW introduced the world's first fully solar-powered train in Byron Bay, and has since pledged to make Sydney's train network the first emissions-free in Australia.

Queensland researchers are looking at ways to run trains on green hydrogen, and trials from overseas show battery-electric freightliners are on Australia's horizon.

While these developments are encouraging, Mr Currie said it was important to remember that we already had the necessary technology to act now and reach emissions targets today.

"We already know what we need to do to improve public transport, to reduce emissions, to reduce car usage and to change cities," he said.

Ultimately, trains are all aboard for transporting Australia to an eco-friendly, flourishing future.

Test your knowledge

Want more information on how your climate is changing? Check out the last article in this series.

Dr Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick is a climate scientist at the University of New South Wales.

This column is part of a collaboration between Monash University and News Corp to deliver hyperlocal weather and climate information.