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Assessment of CO 2 emissions for truck-only and rail-based intermodal freight systems in Europe

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  • Nam Seok Kim
  • Bert Van Wee

Abstract

Rail-based intermodal freight transportation systems in the European Union have been regarded as being more environmental friendly than truck-only freight systems, particularly for long-distance haulage and in terms of CO 2 emissions. However, to date there has been no clear comparison of CO 2 emissions between different freight systems. Therefore, this paper examines whether the intermodal freight system really does emit less CO 2 than their road-based counterparts. A research framework is established in which the methods and data of earlier studies are assessed. Based on a conceptualisation of intermodal and truck-only systems, the semi-life cycle assessment technique, which excludes emissions from infrastructure and vehicle manufacturing and includes emissions from the production of fuel and direct emissions, is used in order to examine the short- and medium-term environmental impact of different freight systems. The main conclusion is that in general rail-based intermodal freight systems emit less CO 2 than truck-only systems, regardless of the type of locomotive. For electric locomotives, the electricity power-generating source is the definitive factor in deciding which type of train in an intermodal freight system offers the most environmental friendly alternative: if power plants use only coal or oil fuel sources, intermodal systems using electric trains could emit more CO 2 than their competitors.

Suggested Citation

  • Nam Seok Kim & Bert Van Wee, 2009. "Assessment of CO 2 emissions for truck-only and rail-based intermodal freight systems in Europe," Transportation Planning and Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(4), pages 313-333, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:transp:v:32:y:2009:i:4:p:313-333
    DOI: 10.1080/03081060903119584
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    Cited by:

    1. Han Zheng & Junhua Chen & Zhaocha Huang & Jianhao Zhu, 2022. "Joint Optimization of Multi-Cycle Timetable Considering Supply-to-Demand Relationship and Energy Consumption for Rail Express," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(21), pages 1-29, November.
    2. Nam Seok Kim & Byungkyu Park & Kang-Dae Lee, 2016. "A knowledge based freight management decision support system incorporating economies of scale: multimodal minimum cost flow optimization approach," Information Technology and Management, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 81-94, March.
    3. Jianjun Fu & Junhua Chen, 2021. "A Green Transportation Planning Approach for Coal Heavy-Haul Railway System by Simultaneously Optimizing Energy Consumption and Capacity Utilization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-25, April.
    4. Yin, Chuanzhong & Zhang, Zi-Ang & Fu, Xiaowen & Ge, Ying-En, 2024. "A low-carbon transportation network: Collaborative effects of a rail freight subsidy and carbon trading mechanism," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    5. Bhatia, Vinod & Sharma, Seema, 2024. "Trends and policy analysis: A case for sustainable transport systems in India," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 76-86.
    6. Souza, Marlon Fernandes de & Tisler, Trevor Ray & Castro, Gustavo Spadotti Amaral & Oliveira, Andréa Leda Ramos de, 2023. "Port regionalization for agricultural commodities: Mapping exporting port hinterlands," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    7. Dirk Briskorn & Florian Jaehn & Andreas Wiehl, 2019. "A generator for test instances of scheduling problems concerning cranes in transshipment terminals," OR Spectrum: Quantitative Approaches in Management, Springer;Gesellschaft für Operations Research e.V., vol. 41(1), pages 45-69, March.
    8. Han, Rong & Yu, Bi-Ying & Tang, Bao-Jun & Liao, Hua & Wei, Yi-Ming, 2017. "Carbon emissions quotas in the Chinese road transport sector: A carbon trading perspective," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 298-309.
    9. Tao, Xuezong & Wu, Qin & Zhu, Lichao, 2017. "Mitigation potential of CO2 emissions from modal shift induced by subsidy in hinterland container transport," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 265-273.
    10. Abiye Tob-Ogu & Niraj Kumar & John Cullen & Erica E. F. Ballantyne, 2018. "Sustainability Intervention Mechanisms for Managing Road Freight Transport Externalities: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-18, June.

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