LOCOMOTIVES: MAJOR PLAYER IN FUTURE

TRANSPORTATION

Chan, Keith
Ching, Rendell
Esguerra, Adrian
Salud, Joyce
Tan, Abraham
Tolentino, Lester

March 12, 2009

EM-TECH s16
Ms. Pineda
 LOCOMOTIVES: MAJOR PLAYER IN FUTURE TRANSPORTATION

S16
Chan, Keith : keithd_chan@yahoo.com
Salud, Joyce: joyshee_ann@yahoo.com
Tan, Abraham: papabear_0229@yahoo.com
Tolentino, John Lester: lester_12363@yahoo.com
Ching, Rendell
Esguerra, Adrian

removed or put on hold, it can cripple cities

Abstract and even countries. Therefore it is important

The goal of this research paper is to address

the latest issues concerning transportation
namely (1) environmental issues, (2) future
transportation demands, (3) Fossil Fuel
Supply and (4) locomotive issues. Alongside
with it the focus of this research paper is to
provide convincing answers on questions
regarding why everyone must be aware of
transportation issues, its significance and
what are the possible solutions locomotives
can provide to further improve the present
situation. In a nutshell the goal is to allow
people to have an awareness of the major
issues concerning transportation globally
and how it can affect the local industry as
well and at the same time gather solutions
which locomotives can provide.
Introduction
The ability to travel from one place to
another is essential to the humankind. And
that is the very reason why since the
beginning of time the idea of transportation
has been around. From animals which were
the initial “external” means of transportation,
to aeroplanes that transports people from
one country to another in just a matter of
hours. Transportation plays an important
role in our daily lives and the continuous
developments on this field prove its very
significance. If transportation should be
that people are aware of the issues with
regard to transportation. Allowing
awareness will cause participation and
contribution within the community.
Innovations or simple alternatives maybe
produced and eventually address the
increasing transportation issues that lie
ahead.
Environmental Issue
The latest concern the global community
faces is the issue regarding the Climate
Change or Global Warming. Since this issue
is affecting everyone around the globe and
the damage it can cause is close to
catastrophic, all other issues at present will
more or less interconnect with this major
issue. And that is why the first issue that will
be address in this paper is regarding the
environmental issue on transportation. In an
article by Martin Donohoe it was stated that
major cause of this crisis is through the
burning of fossil fuels. And when it comes
to transportation, majority of the existing
mode of transportation burns fossil fuel for
it to run. It was estimated that “Globally, the
automobile population is expected to double
in the next 25-50 years” (Donohoe 2007).
Given this insight it can be said that in an
environmental point of view that
transportation despite its importance will
severely worsen the current crisis. And the
reason why this is such an issue is because
of the fact that transportation cannot be
simply taken out of the picture.
Future Transportation Demands
Another issue at hand would be regarding
the future transportation demands. One
demand will be on the increase in the
availability of transportation. The reason
behind this is the gradual expansion of the
human population.
As the graph shows, it is expected that the
world population would reach almost 9
billion by the year 2050. Therefore since
there will be more people that will go from
one place to another then increase in space
regarding transportation will be needed.
Since automobile is the major player
presently the issue is related in the sense that
expansion of road systems is a must. The
problem here is that it will be too costly and
since majority relies on automobile it will
affect the majority of the population.
Therefore the demand of availability and
space expansion in terms of transportation
can cause a serious paralysis in the near
future.
Fossil Fuel Supply
The issue regarding fossil fuel besides the
fact that it is harmful to the environment is
also the issue of its availability. As it is
known, fossil fuel is a resource that cannot
be replenished. Eventually in the future like
it or not the fossil fuel supply will run out.
The good thing about this is that many
alternatives are being conceptualized to
eventually replace fossil fuel. But the fact
that fossil fuel is still better when it comes to
performance is something that everyone will
agree with. The issue will now be how then
will fossil fuel as a natural resource be
preserved and efficiently be used.
Locomotive Issues
Though the point of this paper is to prove
that locomotive is one of the possible
solutions that can be banked on, there also
exist issues concerning locomotives. The
major issue with locomotive is that it is
costly in the sense that it has its own road
system. Therefore if this will be used as the
main mode of transportation, development
of new railroad systems will cost a lot. Not
only that but the length of time it will take
for it to be completed will definitely longer
as compared to developing a new road since
there are a lot involved in locomotive
developments such as stations, power and
the locomotive itself. And the other issue for
locomotives would be on border crossing
issues within the country or even from a
country to another. If this were to be the
main mode of transportation from one
country to another then it will similar to an
airport wherein there are passports and visas
that will be required.
Conclusions and Recommendations
Since transportation is something that we
cannot go without it is given that more and
more effort and investments will be put into
to figure out ways to improve the ones
currently available. After the study of issues but the hopefully it will leave an impression
concerning transportation, the group decided that in the simple things we can address the
that using locomotive as an approach to this issues regarding transportation. But looking
situation will be beneficial. And the reason at all the existing means of transportation
why the group chose locomotive as the locomotive is something that is usually
alternative or as the possible solution is overlooked by people. One of the most
because it addresses the very issues that recent developments on locomotive right
concerns transportation. after the bullet train, is MagLev. The
concept behind this is to use magnetic force
For the environmental issue, since modern to attract and repel magnets which causes
locomotives uses electricity for it to work, the train to move. At the same time the
this will definitely be something speed reaches more than 570km/hr which
environmental friendly. Alongside with it says a lot when it comes to time. This
fossil fuel supply will be preserved. Since innovation though is still not fully developed
energy cannot be created nor can it be is already causing a great change in how we
destroyed, this assures us of the fact that travel. But the potential behind locomotive
energy will always be around. The issue on as a mode of transportation is something that
transportation demands also can be fixed by people should continue to study since it
locomotive. It is true though that similar to could further pave the way to a future of
automobiles; locomotives will also have the easy transportation.
need to expand. But the good thing it will
lessen the activity of automobiles since the
space in locomotives can always be utilized.
Unlike if there’s a private automobile even
though four can fit inside it but only one
person is driving it then space is not utilized.
And the last issue mentioned will be on the
issue of locomotives. True enough that it
will cost a lot for its development stage. But
once it gets to its implementation stage then
benefits can be ripped out of it. The
advantage of it also having its own railroad
system is that it can travel long distances
and assures the fact that heavy traffic will
not be experienced by the passengers.

The group recommends that locally these

issues regarding transportation will be heard
by the local industry. Since as it was stated
in the introduction awareness can really help
the community to think and do something
about it. The group recommends that the
local government should start on investing
in locomotive as the mode of transportation.
The group is not denying the fact that there
are many developed alternatives out there
Resources:

http://nefertiti.iwebland.com/timelines/topic
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www.worldbank.org/depweb/english/beyon
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http://www.scdigest.com/assets/On_Target/0
8-11-3-1.php?cid=2053&ctype=content
(2008)

http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/global
warming/primer/primer.html (Hanlon 2008)

http://www.smtdc.com/en/gycf4.asp

http://www.rtri.or.jp/rd/maglev/html/english
/maglev_frame_E.html(2004)

http://www.ncsl.org/programs/transportation
/trOverview.htm

http://www.uschamber.com/issues/index/tra
nsportation/default