Call for Cleaner Trains and Boats


TIRED OF SMELLING TRAINS?

WORRIED ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE BREATHING?

See coverage of this issue on WTTW's Chicago tonight! 

In March 2008 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized far reaching "tailpipe" emission standards for new locomotive and boat engines, some of the LARGEST and DIRTIEST diesel engines out there today.

Unfortunately, the pollution controls that remove 90 percent of diesel soot won't be required on trains and boats until 2015, and even then this requirement will only apply to brand new diesel engines.  Many engines already in use simply won't be cleaned up, including many engines still operating in Chicago communities that are over 50 years old!

Diesel soot contains small particles linked to increases in asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes, cancer and early death. Since Chicago is the rail hub of the entire country, cleaning up trains here would produce the greatest health benefit.

RHAMC in conjunction with the Clean Air Task Force conducted a series of soot pollution tests on or near Chicago area trains. Click here to see videos of the tests as featured on WTTW's Chicago Tonight!

Did You Know...

1,200 trains pass through Chicagoland EVERY day (a third of all US rail freight).

Southern Lake Michigan ports handle more cargo than San Francisco or Seattle.

Click here to learn more about locomotive pollution!

*ACTION ALERT: Demand railroad companied to clean up their dirty diesel engines!

Call Metra TODAY at (312) 322-6777 and urge them to clean up their dirty engines!

Tell them about these damaging effects their pollution has on the community:

  • Locomotive pollution is a major public health threat.
  • Diesel exhaust from locomotives contains over 40 toxic air contaminants, carcinogens, ozone smog-forming compounds, and fine particulate matter ("soot"). Exposure to fine particles is known to cause asthma attacks, heart attacks, lung cancer, strokes, and even premature deaths.
  • Technology exists to clean up locomotive pollution. It's time for Metra to protect its customers, workers, and our communities and clean up its dirty diesel engines! 

Metra can clean up its engines by:

  • Using cleaner fuels--using ultra-low sulfur fuel in locomotives reduces "soot" pollution.
  • Using cleaner engines--Metra can reduce soot emissions by 50-60% just by simply meeting current EPA locomotive emission standards.
  • Installing Anti-Idling Technology--Automatic idling controls, such as auxiliary power units and stop/start technologies reduce pollution AND save fuel.
  • Installing Pollution Controls--Installing diesel exhaust pollution controls, such as particulate filters or oxidation catalysts can reduce soot pollution by up to an additional 90%!

Spread the word.

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