https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_efficiency_in_transport

that table is thoroughly fascinating. i mean all of them, there’s more than one table on that article

apparently walking is the most energy-efficient transport mode of all?!?!? apart from bicycles

what i find mind-blowing is that airplanes consume approximately the same amount of energy as cars and trains. I mean i can easily see cars and trains being on the same level, but i always thought that airplanes consumed like an order of magnitude more fuel than cars. considering how everybody keeps saying that “airplanes consume so much fuel” and such. crazy.

and also boats are less efficient than i thought? boats consume 16 L/100 km while cars, trains and airplanes consume 6 L/100 km?

  • AA5B@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    5 days ago

    Maybe, but I’m not familiar with chicagos system

    • Amtrak == intercity. Travel from one city to another, potentially long distance. Scheduled
    • Commuter Rail == into and out of the city, over a large region. Typically Bring commuting workers in from suburbs and may be scheduled to prioritize rush hour
    • heavy rail == “normal” trains, might be used as subway or surface. Typically travel from one part of a city to another, and operate continuously, with minutes between trains
    • light rail == slower, cheaper, a tram. might be underground or a streetcar. Typically travel along neighborhoods, more local transit. Scheduled continuously with minutes between trains

    Here in Boston

    • I can take Amtrak to nyc, to Portland Maine, or to Albany and west
    • we have commuter rail lines covering half the state to bring people from towns and suburbs into Boston.
    • we have I think 3 “heavy” rail lines operating as subways, and on the surface as it leaves the city proper
    • we have a light rail line operating in tunnels through the city center but on the surface as a tram or streetcar through various neighborhoods. For example students can hop on the get from one end of Boston university another
    • AA5B@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      5 days ago

      I think “metros” are a combination of “heavy rail” and “commuter rail” over a larger metro area. Fast and longer distance like commuter rail, but regular service like “heavy rail”

    • HubertManne@piefed.socialEnglish
      11·
      5 days ago

      ok yeah then it makes sense. over here you have metra which runs on the same cargo rail as amtrak just more geared around commuting and then we have a metro line so that is like heavy. I think we had light tram type things at times but as far as I know don’t have any currently.