Should all train engines operated by coal be converted to electric engines?
MPPSC State Service - 2018,
Answer: A
The keyed answer is Yes, coal engines pollute the environment more than electric engines.
Coal-fired steam engines burn fuel on board and release smoke, soot and gases directly along the track. Electric engines produce no emissions where they run, and their efficiency is higher, so electrification reduces pollution. This is the environmental case for conversion.
'More powerful and efficient' is true of electric traction but is a secondary argument, while the arguments against conversion are weak: railway traction is a small share of electricity demand, and having enough coal does not answer the pollution problem.
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