CNN / Money Magazine note that self-made billionaire Warren Buffet has been investing in America’s railroads. The article points out that technology improvements have resulted in trains getting 80% more mileage from a gallon of diesel than they did in 1980, and that “for distances of more than 1,000 miles, using trains rather than trucks alone reduces fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 65%.”
It seems that if the U.S. is to ever become energy independent, using our existing railroads is clearly one way to go. Interestingly, due to trains making predictable stops and specific locations, they would also be an excellent candidate for using hydrogen fuel-cells. A quick Google search found this page discussing the idea.