This paper provides a comparison of the energy consumption and carbon emissions of rail and road vehicles for two routes. The scenarios considered are a high running speed container train, in locomotive hauled and electrical multiple unit (EMU) configuration, and a converted passenger EMU for pallets, as well as the corresponding road heavy goods vehicles. The container route is over the UK's East Coast Main Line and the pallet route is from London to the border with Scotland. The well-to-wheel 2008 and projected 2035 energy figures and carbon emissions are determined. It is demonstrated that, despite higher running speeds, a modal shift to rail reduces carbon emissions. The higher speed results in a more flexible path allocation for freight trains, enabling more attractive and flexible offers to shippers, therefore encouraging modal shift. The particular advantage of rail in hauling large volumes of cargo is highlighted, particularly if locomotives are used for traction. The results of the studies suggest that the superior rolling efficiency of a railway vehicle can lead to some short-term reductions in CO2 emissions if a modal shift from road to rail takes place, but that in some cases considered these reductions are marginal if the mix of energy sources in UK electricity generation does not significantly improve. However, should the electricity mix become less CO2-intensive, then the reductions in emissions are significant, in some cases in excess of 50%. The case for a modal shift to rail is clearest for steady point-to-point flows, where a long road journey is replaced by a long rail journey at sustained high speed. This study raises a number of questions, which are worthy of further consideration. First, the vehicle parameters used here assume a level of technological progress over the next 25 years. Intensive research will be needed into vehicle design, in order to reduce vehicle tare masses to the levels assumed in this analysis. Second, control strategies that optimise not only timetable constraints and speed limits, but also energy use should be developed and trialled in the simulator, replacing the generic control algorithm currently employed. Around the world, economic driving strategies have already been trialled,12 but could be developed further around an accurate model of a train driver as a controller.


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    Title :

    Rail freight in 2035 - traction energy analysis for high-performance freight trains


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    2012


    Size :

    7 Seiten, 5 Bilder, 2 Tabellen, 12 Quellen




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English




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