The neutralisation of greenhouse gas emissions and fine particulates – this is SNCF’s commitment for 2035. The company has also set a “zero waste” objective for the same year.
In order to meet these objectives, the French state-owned railway company wants to increase the number of new materials submitted to tests, materials that consume less energy, that are less polluting and, at the same time, recyclable.
SNCF’s commitment for 2035 was announced during a press conference in Paris. “Currently, in France, trains ensure 10% of passenger and freight transport and are responsible for just 0.6% of the carbon dioxide emissions. If we double the share of rail transport, we can reduce emissions by 10%. 0.6% of carbon dioxide emissions already means that there are 0.6% more emissions”, said Sophie Chambon, Sustainable Development Director at SNCF, quoted by BFMTV.
“The TGV of the future” or “TGV 2020”, as SNCF calls it, will have to be 20% cheaper for procurement and operation and, at the same time, 20% more energy efficient. These new high-speed units will be “99% recyclable”, promises Sophie Chambon. Starting next year, SNCF promises to launch testing hybrid trains to enable the reduction of energy consumption and polluting emissions by 20%, especially inside and in the proximity of cities.
The company has already announced its ambition to give up Diesel engines by 2035. SNCF will focus on hydrogen trains which only generate water vapours. For the moment, several regions have expressed interest in these trains and 15 units could be ordered by the end of the year, according to a press release published by SNCF.
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