FIGURE 2.43 Michigan Central Railroad Station in Detroit. When it was built in 1913, Michigan Central Station was the tallest train station in the world. However, the rise of automobile-based transportation meant that by 1956, the building was virtually unused. It finally closed in 1988 and has rapidly deteriorated ever since. Now the question is: Will concerns about fuel costs and CO₂ emissions decrease automobile use and reintroduce an era of rail transportation? Courtesy J.D. Pooley/Getty Images