i remember crying at the conclusion of an emotional memoir and attempting to apologize and explain my tears to my stranger seatmate. but what started with my embarrassment turned into a long, intermittent conversation– about the book, other recommended readings, our careers, and life experiences.

all this while immersed in the beautiful scenes of the allegheny mountains. we exchanged contact information and remained in touch during my time in dc, a true blessing to have an experienced guide to life in a new city and a rare glimpse into an intergenerational friendship. 

encounters like this and others on the amtrak– including an amish church service, card games with strangers, and even a date in the cafe car– have led me to wonder if there isn’t something spiritual about this form of travel. i originally started experimenting with train travel to lower my carbon emissions and save money, but i continue to travel by train because it changes the way that i experience the world.

rail travel reveals that sustainable innovations can be meaningful and enriching, even when they appear inconvenient at face value. climate solutions connect us, and just like a garden, train travel brings us closer to the earth and each other.

the climate case for rail

flying and driving are often viewed as daily necessities, but behind the scenes, they can be a climate disaster. america’s transportation sector is responsible for 28 percent of all u.s. greenhouse gas emissions, according to the environmental protection agency, making it the largest single sector contributing to greenhouse gases nationwide.

such a substantial chunk of emissions is disappointing, but it also means that developing sustainable transportation pathways is one of the most crucial routes to preventing future climate change. there is good reason for hope; it just so happens that one of the easiest solutions runs through our downtowns.

the united states’ passenger rail network, amtrak, reports that on average, its train routes are 46 percent more energy efficient than travel by car and 34 percent more efficient than domestic air travel, while its electrified routes jump up to 72 percent more efficient than planes, and 83 percent more efficient than cars. choosing to travel by train not only offers scenic views and faster check-ins, but it is also a climate solution waiting in our own backyards.

growing innovation, shrinking emissions

even with its advantages, train infrastructure isn’t perfect. when one climate reporter for the new york times took the train from new york to california to reduce her emissions, she was shocked to run the numbers and find that her trip actually burned more fossil fuel than a comparable flight. this higher emissions total is rare for train travel, but it is still concerning. for diesel routes under 700 miles, emissions savings are measurable, but planes regain the efficiency edge at extreme distances.

this is where innovation steps in. electrification multiplies the potential energy savings from train travel and ensures that these savings are robust even over long distances. improved rail infrastructure and electrification make for a major climate advantage.

other countries have demonstrated that such innovation is possible. for example, in the last two decades, china has rapidly developed its high-speed rail network. the world bank reports that since 2008, china’s rail system has become “larger than all the high-speed networks in the rest of the world put together.”

while the size and scale of china’s rail project required substantial government subsidies, the technology is a widespread success. efficient and affordable transportation options have led to widespread adoption of rail travel, with over 4.5 billion trips in 2025 alone– a few of which featured me eagerly taking in the unfamiliar landscapes. 

embracing slow travel

just as my encounter on the amtrak showed, rail travel is much more than a climate solution; it is a different way of experiencing time and space. in their book slow travel and tourism, scholars janet dickinson and les lumsdon write that “in the moving space, slow travel is also about a critical appreciation of the journey and with an underlying value that travel need not impact heavily on the environment.” they also identify pilgrimage as a historical lineage of slow travel, which has long been a part of diverse religious and cultural traditions and focuses on the journey as something transformative in itself. 

climate innovations can be flashy, but some of the most important ones– like reducing consumption or getting in the dirt to grow local food– are not. they are slow, humbling, and sacrificial investments in a better world. yet, those who practice them with patience often find new meaning and relationships along their journey. this patience could enrich our attitude toward travel, which isn’t just a means to an end but a journey, or pilgrimage, in itself. deciding to slow down just might be the thing that accelerates us toward a brighter future.