Editing Rail transport (section)

===Energy===
Transport by rail is an [[energy efficiency in transport|energy-efficient]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.progressiverailroading.com/news/article.asp?id=16740 |title=Railroad Fuel Efficiency Sets New Record |author=American Association of Railroads |access-date=12 April 2009 |archive-date=26 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126044749/http://www.progressiverailroading.com/news/article.asp?id=16740 |url-status=live }}</ref> but [[capital intensive|capital-intensive]]<ref name="economictimes.indiatimes.com">{{cite web |title=What is Rail Transport? Definition of Rail Transport, Rail Transport Meaning |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/definition/rail-transport#:~:text=Definition%3A%20Rail%20transport%20is%20also,as%20well%20as%2C%20short%20distances. |website=The Economic Times |access-date=27 January 2021 |archive-date=13 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413151604/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/definition/rail-transport#:~:text=Definition%3A%20Rail%20transport%20is%20also,as%20well%20as%2C%20short%20distances. |url-status=live }}</ref> means of mechanized land transport. The tracks provide smooth and hard surfaces on which the wheels of the train can roll with a relatively low level of friction.

A typical modern wagon can hold up to {{convert|113|t|ST}} of freight on two four-wheel [[bogie]]s. The track distributes the weight of the train evenly, allowing significantly greater loads per [[axle]] and wheel than in road transport, leading to greater energy efficiency. Trains have a smaller frontal area in relation to the load they are carrying, which reduces [[air resistance]] and thus energy usage.

In addition, the presence of track guiding the wheels allows for very long trains to be pulled by one or a few engines and driven by a single operator, even around curves, which allows for [[economies of scale]] in both manpower and energy use; by contrast, in road transport, more than two [[Articulated vehicle|articulations]] causes [[fishtailing]] and makes the vehicle unsafe.

====Energy efficiency====
{{Main|Energy efficiency in transportation#Trains}}
Considering only the energy spent to move the means of transport, and using the example of the urban area of [[Lisbon]], electric trains seem to be on average 20 times more efficient than automobiles for transportation of passengers, if we consider energy spent per passenger-distance with similar occupation ratios.<ref>{{cite web |author=Publicada por João Pimentel Ferreira |url=http://www.veraveritas.eu/2013/02/carro-ou-comboio.html |title=Carro ou comboio? |publisher=Veraveritas.eu |access-date=3 January 2015 |archive-date=8 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150408230511/http://www.veraveritas.eu/2013/02/carro-ou-comboio.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Considering an automobile with a consumption of around {{convert|6|L/100 km|abbr=on}} of fuel, the average car in Europe has an occupancy of around 1.2 passengers per automobile (occupation ratio around 24%) and that [[Fuel efficiency|one litre of fuel]] amounts to about {{convert|8.8| kWh|abbr=on}}, equating to an average of {{convert|441| Wh|abbr=on}} per passenger-km. This compares to a modern train with an average occupancy of 20% and a consumption of about {{convert|8.5| kWh/km|abbr=on}}, equating to {{convert|21.5| Wh|abbr=on}} per passenger-km, 20 times less than the automobile.