Railways and Energy

 

Railways and Energy

After the 1979 energy crisis (which was triggered by the Iranian revolution and responses to it), New Zealand Government energy policy became concerned about reliability of supply of oil. NZ Railways saw itself as a key contributor to promoting energy efficiency, this undated leaflet was part of that.

It highlights research undertaken by the Railways Department in 1980 measuring fuel consumption of a diesel freight train between Wellington and Auckland, and comparing it to the average fuel consumption of the largest trucks permitted on the roads at the time. The difference was a litre per tonne km moved of 5.1 to 1.

This would not, however, result in the Government refusing to deregulate land transport in 1983, removing NZR's monopoly on long-haul freight. Indeed the results of that test are sometimes cited today, notwithstanding that a lot has changed in the past forty years. The size of trucks permitted on state highways has increased considerably as has their fuel efficiency, and the North Island Main Trunk was partially electrified.  The actual difference in fuel consumption today is an important element of rail's competitiveness.

The leaflet interestingly notes that the fuel efficiency is concentrated on more intensively used routes, because on branch lines with small loads, the capacity of locomotives is wasted. If freight loads are mostly one-way, much fuel is used moving empty wagons back to the loading point. 

The leaflet is also much less effusive about the fuel-efficiency advantages of rail in moving passengers. It notes that a long-distance train and bus use roughly the same amount of energy to move each person -  a situation likely true in New Zealand, but perhaps less so elsewhere.  It notes that uses use less energy per passenger shifted than a train because it easier to fill a bus.  It notes that a well loaded suburban train is extremely fuel efficient.

Finally the leaflet notes that NZR moved energy products including oil and petrol from Wellington to Palmerston North (which was dropped in the 1990s), and much coal from Westland, Waikato and Southland (which all remains to this day).