Climate and the rail industry
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In depthInfrastructure: Developing a rail resilience framework
Arup has developed a policy document aimed at helping the rail sector to reframe its approach to climate resilience by embracing ‘whole-system’ thinking. Co-author Juliet Mian explains to Nick Kingsley.
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Rail Business UKScotland’s Railway publishes five-year Climate Action Plan
UK: The Scotland’s Railway partnership of Network Rail and ScotRail has published a five-year Climate Action Plan setting out aims to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in 2024-29. There are five priority areas: Climate ready: preparing the railway and organisations for anticipated changes in the ...
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In depthComment: ‘Not cheaper, just easier’
With cross-border rail ticketing being cited as a priority for the next European Commission, Andrew Grantham discusses the complexities of achieving seamless bookings and the industry’s struggle to meet growing demand for sustainable mobility options.
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Rail Business UKFive electrified railway lines at risk from climate change
UK: The 25 kV 50 Hz overhead equipment on five sections of railway needs ‘immediate assessment and renewal’ to address the threat to reliability posed by climate change, according to electrification engineering company Furrer+Frey. The latest update to the company’s Climate Resilience in Rail Electrification report ...
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NewsDanish train operator to buy solar power
DENMARK: National passenger operator DSB has agreed to purchase 80 GWh/year from the 262 GWh/year Lidsø Solar Park which European Energy is to develop on a 253 ha site at Rødbyhavn. DSB said this is equivalent to half of the current power consumption of its København ...
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NewsCN launches fire-fighting trains to protect supply chains from wildfires
CANADA: Canadian National has created fire-fighting trains named ‘Trident’ and ‘Neptune’ which are designed to enable a significant amount of water and fire suppression capacity to reach isolated areas. The two trains are in addition to ‘Poseidon’, which was developed as a proof-of-concept. All three will ...
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Metro Report InternationalPlaybook sets out SEPTA’s sustainability vision
USA: Philadelphia transport agency SEPTA has published a Sustainability Playbook setting out its latest seven-year vision to embed environmental, social and economic best practices within its operations. Plans include: transitioning revenue and non-revenue vehicles to zero emissions, and right-sizing the non-revenue fleet vehicles for efficiency ...
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NewsRail sector welcomes step towards emissions calculation standardisation
EUROPE: The European Parliament’s Environment and Transport committees have jointly adopted a draft report on a proposed EU Regulation which would establish a common methodology to enable fair comparisons of the greenhouse gas emissions from different modes of transport. This was welcomed by the Community of ...
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NewsNorfolk Southern aims for low-carbon future
USA: Norfolk Southern has released its inaugural Climate Transition Plan, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emission intensity by 42% by 2034. Plans include the use of innovative technologies and operating practices to improve locomotive fuel consumption, which accounts for over 90% of the company’s scope 1 ...
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In depthComment: A long way from København
Comparing COP15 in København to the recent COP28 summit in Dubai reveals a shift in the visibility of rail in climate discussions. Nick Kingsley reflects on COP28’s commitment to the transition away from fossil fuels and how addressing transport pollution remains an urgent challenge.
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In depthJapan: Rural railways struggle against a changing climate
Recent storms have caused huge damage in parts of Japan, wrecking some rural railways and forcing others to close. Mike Bent examines how local lines can be revived against the odds.
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In depthResilient Infrastructure: Protecting Japan’s national network from earthquakes
The Railway Technical Research Institute is striving to find ways of making Japan’s railways safer and more secure against damage from earthquakes.
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Rail Business UKElectrification hopes sidelined in RSSB sustainability strategy
UK: The Rail Safety & Standards Board has launched a Sustainable Rail Blueprint, which it says will support the rail industry in making progress on environmental and social sustainability challenges. According to RSSB, the industry faces a challenge not just to deliver net ...
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Rail Business UKNetwork Rail to study composite sleeper profiles
UK: Network Rail has awarded Dutch company Lankhorst Rail a contract to assist with the development of the next generation of railway sleeper. The infrastructure manager plans to use Lankhorst’s KLP composite sleepers manufactured from recycled plastic reinforced with steel to investigate the bending stiffness, flexibility ...
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In depthComment: Green credentials on the line
The European Commission’s Greening Freight proposals reiterate the EU’s commitment to growing rail’s share of the logistics chain, but they also set out the challenge the sector will face amid the complexity and cost of building new infrastructure, and as measures are adopted to aid the decarbonisation of competing modes.
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OrganisationsCarbon Literacy for Rail training course launched
UK: The Rail Safety & Standards Board has launched a Carbon Literacy for Rail training course, designed to provide anyone working in rail infrastructure, operations or the supply chain with the knowledge to lower their personal and organisational carbon footprint. The first course is scheduled for ...
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Rail Business UKCarbon calculator to show the impact of business travel by rail
UK: The Rail Delivery Group has appointed Thrust Carbon and rail data company Fabrik to create a tool which can provide business travellers with detailed data about the carbon emissions of a rail journey at the point of sale. The tool will take into account engine ...
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Rail Business UKDawlish sea wall rebuild completed
UK: A project to rebuild the Dawlish sea wall to protect the railway along the Devon coast has been officially completed. The £82m, 2½ year scheme forms part of the wider £165m South West Resilience Programme which was launched after storms in 2014 put the line ...
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Metro Report InternationalTram becomes rolling weather station
GERMANY: A Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr tram has been fitted with weather monitoring sensors to complement static equipment which municipal transport, energy and digital technology company Smart City Mannheim is installing at 400 fixed locations throughout the city by the end of 2023. The equipment includes two air parameter sensors ...
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NewsRailway climate resilience projects awarded funding
CANADA: Up to C$5·4m of federal funding has been awarded for 20 projects to develop and implement of technologies which will help railways to understand and mitigate the risks arising from climate change ‘We’re building a more climate resilient country, and investing in measures such as ...