Scholarly record
RAIL TRANSPORT AS AN ECOLOGICAL AND SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE
Abstract
Transport represents one of the key sectors in terms of greenhouse gas emissions within the European Union and, at the same time, an area with a growing demand for both passenger and freight transport. Despite increasing energy efficiency, the European transport system remains largely dependent on fossil fuels and significantly contributes to CO2 emissions as well as to economic losses caused by traffic congestion. Strategic documents of the European Union, particularly the White Paper, envisage a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, along with a significant increase in the share of rail transport in both passenger and freight transport over medium distances. The aim of this paper is to evaluate rail transport as a more environmentally friendly alternative to road transport, based on European Union strategic documents and current railway practice. Particular attention is paid to the environmental benefits of rail transport, as well as to the possibilities of reducing CO2 emissions through railway electrification and the use of alternative propulsion systems such as battery and hydrogen units. The paper further discusses the technological and operational aspects of individual solutions with regard to the characteristics of railway lines and the requirements for long-term sustainable transport development. In conclusion, the future development of rail transport within the European transport area is outlined, particularly in terms of interoperability and integration into multimodal transport systems. The results confirm that the development of rail transport represents an important tool for achieving sustainable mobility goals and the gradual decarbonization of the transport sector.
Publication details
ReferencesPending
Structured references will appear here after the reference import pass. The count is preserved now so the scholarly record is not incomplete.