The analysis “Moving towards Sustainable Mobility: European Rail Sector Strategy 2030 and beyond” was jointly drafted and endorsed by the members of the International Union of Railways (UIC) and of the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) for the purpose of providing a unified approach of the topics on the environment and mobility sustainability in the European railway sector. The analysis emphasises the performance model of the railway transport in the long run – for 2030 and 2050 – it also offers a framework allowing companies in the specialised sector to make adequate long-term plans.
Although this target may seem difficult to reach, specialists say that it is possible. However, with considerable efforts, made especially by the Member States of the European Union which at the present moment do not benefit from enough investment funds for innovative systems and technologies and, most likely, the financial situation will not change significantly in 2030 or afterwards.
The strategy is based on the commitment that the UIC and CER members made in 2008 to reduce by 2020 the exhaust emissions resulted from the railway traction by 30% at the level of the entire railway transport sector. This commitment is monitored yearly by UIC by means of its Energy and CO2 Database, and the most recent monitoring shows that the railway sector is heading towards the established reduction both in the freight and in the passenger transport.
The strategy elaborated by CER and UIC also focuses on four pillars: environment protection, energy efficiency, reduction of exhaust emissions and of noise emissions. The strategy sets out several targets for the railway sector which must be fulfilled by 2030, but because of some uncertainties in making real predictions for 2050, several “visions” are elaborated for 2050. The comparison is made for the years 1990 – 2020.
The first target – environment protection. By 2030, the European railways will reduce the CO2 emissions resulted from train operation by 50% compared to the 1990 base year, in terms of passenger/km and tonne/km. In addition, the European railway sector has undertaken that by 2030 it will not exceed the total carbon dioxide emission level even with a projected traffic growth compared to the 1990 base year.
By 2050, the European railway sector will try to reach the zero carbon emissions target.
The second target – energy efficiency. By 2030, the European railway sector will reduce its energy consumption from train operation by 30%, the comparison being made similarly to the first target.
This time, by 2050, the European railways will try to cut the energy consumption to 50%.
The third target – exhaust emissions. By 2030, the European railway transport has undertaken to reduce its total exhaust emissions, NOX and PM 10 (air residuals), even with projected traffic growth compared to 2005.
For 2050, the European railways hope to cut to zero the exhaust emissions.
The fourth target – Reduction of noise and vibrations. To attain this target, the noise and the vibrations should not be considered a problem for the railway transport. Practically, this target foresees that in 2050 noise levels will be acceptable both in social and economic terms, which will allow the 24-hour running of passenger and freight trains, with no restriction.
[ by Elena Ilie ]Share on:
