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Rail case study

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This document discusses the environmental benefits of high-speed rail networks. It summarizes that: 1) High-speed rail offers more sustainable transportation than air or car travel for short-to-medium distances, emitting less CO2 per passenger kilometer. 2) Steel plays a key role in high-speed rail, being used for tracks, overhead lines, trains, bridges and stations, and innovations in steel grades have improved rail efficiency over time. 3) A case study of a new French high-speed rail line found that over its 30-year lifetime, it will save an estimated 2 million tons of CO2 emissions compared to the transportation systems it replaces.

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ENVIRONMENTAL CASE STUDY High-speed rail The World Steel Association (worldsteel) case studies use a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach to measure the potential greenhouse gas impacts from all stages of manufacture, product use and end-of-life. worldsteel has developed this series of case studies to demonstrate the reduction of CO2 emissions through the use of high-performance steels. High-speed rail networks: a sustainable steel solution The need for efficient and sustainable transport infrastructure has led to significant growth in the development of high-speed rail networks. High-speed rail offers competitive door-to- door travel times and reduces traffic congestion on heavily used routes. Rail helps to reduce the environmental impact of transport and contributes to a low-carbon economy. This case study demonstrates the role of high-speed rail in a sustainable transport system. It highlights the importance of steel, as a material, in supporting growth in this sector. The advantages of train travel The global trend towards urbanisation has resulted in more movement between cities and towns. Rail is an attractive travel A TGV train on a high-speed track in France option for short distances because of the convenience of city- centre railway stations. The environmental impact of transport Studies have also shown that travel by rail can be faster than Long haul Medium haul Short haul air travel for short journeys. For example, the introduction of a high speed rail link between Brussels and Paris has reduced Air travel door-to-door travel times by 50% compared to air travel. Non-fossil electricity High-speed train, coal-fired electricity Passenger train 300 High-occupancy city bus Low occupancy, high comfort -50% Buses/Trams 250 Two-occupant small car Single-occupant light truck Door-to-door travel time (min) Cars/Light trucks 200 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 Airline 150 g carbon dioxide per passenger-km High-speed rail 100 CO2 intensity of passenger transport, adapted from the IPCC special report, Aviation and the Global Atmosphere1 50 Transport accounts for 14.3% of global CO2 emissions.2 The 0 graph above shows the CO2 emissions (grams of carbon Brussels-London Brussels-Paris dioxide per passenger-km) associated with different modes of High-speed rail travel time can be 50% lower when compared to air travel transport. For business travellers, rail is more convenient because it There are clear benefits to rail transport over the alternatives, minimises disruption to the working day. especially for regions that use a high proportion of non-fossil fuel based electricity. The figure shows that (for short-haul The combination of speed, safety and convenience result in distances of up to 500 km) high-speed electric trains can increased economic activity and sustainable transport. reduce CO2 emissions by over 50% per passenger and per km compared to a single occupant vehicle or an aircraft. worldsteel.org
ENVIRONMENTAL CASE STUDY The role of steel in high-speed rail There is a clear carbon footprint benefit from the east branch of the LGV compared to the regions existing transport system. Steel is an essential material in a high speed rail network. Throughout the lifetime of the track, carbon savings from the There is steel in the rail track, overhead power lines (catenary displacement of alternative transport options is approximately poles) trains, bridges and stations. 4 MtCO2 equivalent emissions. Taking into account the carbon footprint of the materials, construction and maintenance, the Over time, developments in the grades and quality of steels shift in transport mode saves 2 MtCO2 equivalent emissions. have allowed the construction of lighter, safer and more This saving is equivalent to the annual CO2 emissions from a efficient networks. Innovations such as longer and straighter large French city with 200,000 inhabitants, such as Dijon. steel rails mean that trains can now reach much greater speeds. In addition, when the rail and track components reach the end Environmental benefits of their useful life (typically 30 years4), almost 100% of the steel will be recovered. One of the most important attributes of In 2006, work started on the east branch of a high-speed steel is that it is infinitely recyclable without loss of properties. network in France, known as the LGV. The new Dijon to By recycling the steel track at the end its life there is a Mulhouse line will significantly reduce journey times in the significant reduction in the environmental impact and energy eastern region of France. The track is 140 km long and will be cost associated with the material. completed in 2011. There are further benefits with respect to lowering the local A recent study of the east branch of the LGV by the French environmental impact of building the LGV line. Measures Environment and Energy Management Agency and French have been taken to reduce the impact on biodiversity and railway operators showed that there are significant carbon natural resources, to reduce potential noise impacts, and to footprint benefits associated with the transfer of passengers minimise the impact on the landscape. The use of steel for the from road and air transport.3 civil engineering works here has the advantage of adopting dry According to the study, steel applications on the network construction methods and minimising on-site waste. include: 27,000 tonnes of steel for structures (bridges, viaducts) 600 km of rails, i.e. 46,000 tons of steel, including rails and catenary poles Did you know? 56,000 tonnes of steel bar for reinforced concrete (civil On 3 April 2007 a French high-speed works, railway infrastructure). train set a new world record by travelling at 574.8 km/h. For the lifetime of the rail line (30 years), the carbon footprints in the various life cycle phases were calculated as follows: High-speed steel rail can be manufactured in continuous lengths of planning phase: 22 ktCO2 equivalent over 80 m, which reduces the number of welds and joints and allows trains to construction phase: 1.17 MtCO2 equivalent travel at greater speeds. operation and maintenance phase: 685 ktCO2 equivalent (including 635 ktCO2 equivalent for traction energy, based Last updated: April 2010 on the French electricity mix). The total carbon footprint of the rail line over 30 years of operation is therefore estimated to be 1.87 MtCO2 equivalent. Footnotes 1. IPCC Special Report on Aviation and the Global Atmosphere, 1999, http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/sres/aviation, accessed April 2010 2. WRI (data from 2005) 3. 1er Bilan Carbone ferroviaire global, ADEME, RFF and SNCF, http://www.bilan-carbone-lgvrr.fr, accessed April 2010 4. Corus, Le Journal de Saint-Germain, No. 506, 6 April 2007, p.20 worldsteel.org

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Rail case study

  • 1. ENVIRONMENTAL CASE STUDY High-speed rail The World Steel Association (worldsteel) case studies use a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach to measure the potential greenhouse gas impacts from all stages of manufacture, product use and end-of-life. worldsteel has developed this series of case studies to demonstrate the reduction of CO2 emissions through the use of high-performance steels. High-speed rail networks: a sustainable steel solution The need for efficient and sustainable transport infrastructure has led to significant growth in the development of high-speed rail networks. High-speed rail offers competitive door-to- door travel times and reduces traffic congestion on heavily used routes. Rail helps to reduce the environmental impact of transport and contributes to a low-carbon economy. This case study demonstrates the role of high-speed rail in a sustainable transport system. It highlights the importance of steel, as a material, in supporting growth in this sector. The advantages of train travel The global trend towards urbanisation has resulted in more movement between cities and towns. Rail is an attractive travel A TGV train on a high-speed track in France option for short distances because of the convenience of city- centre railway stations. The environmental impact of transport Studies have also shown that travel by rail can be faster than Long haul Medium haul Short haul air travel for short journeys. For example, the introduction of a high speed rail link between Brussels and Paris has reduced Air travel door-to-door travel times by 50% compared to air travel. Non-fossil electricity High-speed train, coal-fired electricity Passenger train 300 High-occupancy city bus Low occupancy, high comfort -50% Buses/Trams 250 Two-occupant small car Single-occupant light truck Door-to-door travel time (min) Cars/Light trucks 200 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 Airline 150 g carbon dioxide per passenger-km High-speed rail 100 CO2 intensity of passenger transport, adapted from the IPCC special report, Aviation and the Global Atmosphere1 50 Transport accounts for 14.3% of global CO2 emissions.2 The 0 graph above shows the CO2 emissions (grams of carbon Brussels-London Brussels-Paris dioxide per passenger-km) associated with different modes of High-speed rail travel time can be 50% lower when compared to air travel transport. For business travellers, rail is more convenient because it There are clear benefits to rail transport over the alternatives, minimises disruption to the working day. especially for regions that use a high proportion of non-fossil fuel based electricity. The figure shows that (for short-haul The combination of speed, safety and convenience result in distances of up to 500 km) high-speed electric trains can increased economic activity and sustainable transport. reduce CO2 emissions by over 50% per passenger and per km compared to a single occupant vehicle or an aircraft. worldsteel.org
  • 2. ENVIRONMENTAL CASE STUDY The role of steel in high-speed rail There is a clear carbon footprint benefit from the east branch of the LGV compared to the regions existing transport system. Steel is an essential material in a high speed rail network. Throughout the lifetime of the track, carbon savings from the There is steel in the rail track, overhead power lines (catenary displacement of alternative transport options is approximately poles) trains, bridges and stations. 4 MtCO2 equivalent emissions. Taking into account the carbon footprint of the materials, construction and maintenance, the Over time, developments in the grades and quality of steels shift in transport mode saves 2 MtCO2 equivalent emissions. have allowed the construction of lighter, safer and more This saving is equivalent to the annual CO2 emissions from a efficient networks. Innovations such as longer and straighter large French city with 200,000 inhabitants, such as Dijon. steel rails mean that trains can now reach much greater speeds. In addition, when the rail and track components reach the end Environmental benefits of their useful life (typically 30 years4), almost 100% of the steel will be recovered. One of the most important attributes of In 2006, work started on the east branch of a high-speed steel is that it is infinitely recyclable without loss of properties. network in France, known as the LGV. The new Dijon to By recycling the steel track at the end its life there is a Mulhouse line will significantly reduce journey times in the significant reduction in the environmental impact and energy eastern region of France. The track is 140 km long and will be cost associated with the material. completed in 2011. There are further benefits with respect to lowering the local A recent study of the east branch of the LGV by the French environmental impact of building the LGV line. Measures Environment and Energy Management Agency and French have been taken to reduce the impact on biodiversity and railway operators showed that there are significant carbon natural resources, to reduce potential noise impacts, and to footprint benefits associated with the transfer of passengers minimise the impact on the landscape. The use of steel for the from road and air transport.3 civil engineering works here has the advantage of adopting dry According to the study, steel applications on the network construction methods and minimising on-site waste. include: 27,000 tonnes of steel for structures (bridges, viaducts) 600 km of rails, i.e. 46,000 tons of steel, including rails and catenary poles Did you know? 56,000 tonnes of steel bar for reinforced concrete (civil On 3 April 2007 a French high-speed works, railway infrastructure). train set a new world record by travelling at 574.8 km/h. For the lifetime of the rail line (30 years), the carbon footprints in the various life cycle phases were calculated as follows: High-speed steel rail can be manufactured in continuous lengths of planning phase: 22 ktCO2 equivalent over 80 m, which reduces the number of welds and joints and allows trains to construction phase: 1.17 MtCO2 equivalent travel at greater speeds. operation and maintenance phase: 685 ktCO2 equivalent (including 635 ktCO2 equivalent for traction energy, based Last updated: April 2010 on the French electricity mix). The total carbon footprint of the rail line over 30 years of operation is therefore estimated to be 1.87 MtCO2 equivalent. Footnotes 1. IPCC Special Report on Aviation and the Global Atmosphere, 1999, http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/sres/aviation, accessed April 2010 2. WRI (data from 2005) 3. 1er Bilan Carbone ferroviaire global, ADEME, RFF and SNCF, http://www.bilan-carbone-lgvrr.fr, accessed April 2010 4. Corus, Le Journal de Saint-Germain, No. 506, 6 April 2007, p.20 worldsteel.org