Diesel... electric. Now remove the word diesel.
replyIt reduces the carbon footprint considerably if you don't have to fill up your trains with carbon.
No, you don't need maglev to compete with a ship sailing from NZ on speed.
replyBut you would need maglev if you wanted to compete on energy per ton of cargo per mile. Ships are several times more efficient than classic trains.
replyLook around on youtube how dilapidated a lot of US freight rail is.
replyI'm German, so I'm well used to dishing out on our railways, but at least our rails don't look like spaghetti that have been way overcooked and can only safely be driven at walking speed. And the amount of black smoke the locomotives emit when spinning up their old engines... wouldn't pass any emissions inspections here in Germany.