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A new study (by a barge owner’s foundation) shows barges as being more efficient and safer then both rail and trucks. Look out – this could be the beginning of a new effort to divert more tax dollars to build locks and dams to benefit the members of the National Waterways Foundation.

They offer some interesting arguments touting the benefits of waterway transportation. But, on safety, how difficult is it for a member of the public to be injured by a barge as opposed to a truck or train? Very. On fuel efficiency, how difficult and expensive is it to make it possible for barges to go where there is no water? Very. No mention is made of carrying passengers on waterways. Trains and buses do now.

This study actually makes the case for public and private investment in rail capacity when rail and trucking are compared. If tax money is to be spent anywhere, rail offers the best return on both safety and efficiency.

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Barges are safer and environmentally friendlier than trains and trucks, study says

A new study released by the National Waterways Foundation (NWF) claims inland river barges are the safest and most environmentally friendly transportation mode vs. rail and trucks.

Conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute’s Center for Port and Waterways at Texas A&M University and partially funded by the U.S. Maritime Administration, the study determined that, for each member of the public injured in a barge accident (after adjusting for cargo quantity differences moved by each mode), 125.2 are injured in rail accidents and 2,171.5 are injured in truck accidents. Fatality rates show 155 trucking and 22.7 rail deaths occur for every barge-related fatality.

In addition, barges can move a ton of cargo 576 miles per gallon of fuel compared with 413 miles by rail and 155 miles by trucks, according to the study. Association of American Railroads statistics show trains on average can move a ton of freight more than 436 miles per a gallon of fuel.

The study also determined inland barges generate fewer emissions of particulate matter, hyrdocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide than railroads or trucks on a per-ton-mile-moved basis.

“While we are truly an intermodal society, this comparison of rail, truck and inland waterways transport modes offers an important new perspective on the real benefits of moving cargo by water,” said NWF Chairman Peter Stephaich in a prepared statement.

NWF conducts research studies and forums, and provides education and training programs aimed at developing an efficient and secure inland waterways system.

Source: 7/8/2008 Progressive Railroading