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By Michael Nicholson, 8 August 2022

Rail Transport – Green Credentials

Rail transport is a very energy efficient form of transport with excellent green credentials. Steel-wheels upon steel-rails provides low friction and therefore low rolling resistance, resulting in much reduced energy usage compared to air and road transport. KiwiRail is said to cause 70% less emissions than road transport, even with the majority of their trains operated using diesel locomotives. Rail transport becomes zero emissions when electrified. In addition, modern electric locomotives and passenger rolling stock can recoup energy via regenerative braking technology, recapturing between 10-45% of the original energy used. This recouped energy can be used by other trains or feed back into the national power grid.

Passenger Rail – Low Emissions Travel

International studies show that modern passenger rail is by far the least polluting form of surface transport there is. Throughout the world there is a growing recognition of the role which modern passenger rail can play in drastically reducing emissions.

[Read more…] about Local Trains, Regional Trains and Long-Distance Trains – Low Emission Travel

By Heidi O’Callahan and Paul Callister, 31 July 2022

Long distance coaches, linking communities and reducing emissions

Long distance coaches form an existing, widespread transport network that many New Zealanders do not give much thought to. Yet they are an important service for people living in and near towns and smaller cities, connecting them with each other and with people in the larger cities. They are especially important for disadvantaged groups, including Māori and Pacific people and the disabled. They are vital for those who cannot drive or do not want to drive, such as the very young and older members of society. For many communities, long distance coaches are the only alternative to driving or flying – few towns have airports or passenger rail connections. In terms of low emissions transport options, in New Zealand coaches provide the only longer distance option to most of the population.

[Read more…] about Why intercity needs to be part of public transport

By Judith Galtry, 24 July 2022

“Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius — and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.”

—E.F. Schumacher

I don’t drive very often. Yet I’m experiencing disturbing levels of road rage, both on and off the road! And it’s mainly directed at those SUVs and double cab Utes that increasingly hog our streets. These Goliaths are everywhere: not only on the road but often parked across footpaths blocking pedestrians, including parents with prams and young children on tricycles. Worldwide, at a time when we should be drastically reducing transport emissions, these carbon chompers have been getting heavier, larger (both wider and taller) and more popular. Car obesity is a new disease. This has resulted in a huge increase in fossil fuel emissions, as well as more dangerous roads for small cars, cyclists and walkers.

[Read more…] about My vehicle is ‘bigger than yours’: The David and Goliath struggle on our roads and footpaths

By Jake Roos, BSc (Hons), MAppSc Energy Management
11 July 2022

Wouldn’t it be great if wishes came true, and all your problems just went away? If all you needed to do is ask for something and it materialised out of thin air before you? Of course it would, but the world doesn’t work like that. But it seems the NZ Government is in the thrall of such magical thinking when it comes to ‘sustainable’ biofuels.

[Read more…] about Wishing for fairy dust – why the NZ Biofuels Obligation is the worst kind of magical thinking

By Paul Callister, 8 July 2022

A previous blog has highlighted the success of the Poplar Avenue crossing campaign supported by Low Carbon Kāpiti. Here is some deeper history of the campaign plus some ideas as to how we can conitune to improve our cycling network.

So why the campaign? We know we have to reduce transport emissions. We need to do this quickly and by a significant amount. One way is to increase the amount of walking and biking we do.  We also know that having safe walkways and cycleways greatly helps in this modeshift.

Te Ara o Whareroa shared walking and cycling track that connects the villages of Raumati and Paekākāriki was opened in 2016. Since then it has been popular with recreational walkers and cyclists. It is also used by cycle commuters, including children attending nearby schools. But the crossing of Poplar Avenue was dangerous.

[Read more…] about The Poplar Avenue crossing campaign: Some history and future directions