The potential of high-speed rail freight in Europe: how is a modal shift from road to rail possible for low-density high value cargo?
Abstract Purpose A fully electrified transport chain offers considerable potential for CO2 savings. In this paper, we examine the conditions necessary to introduce a fully electrified, large-scale, high-speed rail freight transport system in Europe in addition to high-speed passenger trains, aiming...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SpringerOpen
2021-01-01
|
| Series: | European Transport Research Review |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12544-020-00453-3 |
| _version_ | 1818728473346179072 |
|---|---|
| author | Mathias Boehm Marlin Arnz Joachim Winter |
| author_facet | Mathias Boehm Marlin Arnz Joachim Winter |
| author_sort | Mathias Boehm |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Purpose A fully electrified transport chain offers considerable potential for CO2 savings. In this paper, we examine the conditions necessary to introduce a fully electrified, large-scale, high-speed rail freight transport system in Europe in addition to high-speed passenger trains, aiming to shift goods transport from road to rail. We compare a novel high-speed rail freight concept with road-based lorry transport for low-density high value goods to estimate the potential for a modal shift from road to rail in 2030. Methods To characterize the impacts of different framework conditions, a simulation tool was designed as a discrete choice model, based on random utility theory, with integrated performance calculation assessing the full multimodal transport chain regarding costs, emissions and time. It was applied to a European reference scenario based on forecast data for freight traffic in 2030. Results We show that high-speed rail freight is about 70% more expensive than the conventional lorry but emits 80% less CO2 emissions for the baseline parameter setting. The expected mode share largely depends on the cargo’s value of time, while the implementation of a CO2-tax of 100 EUR/tCO2eq has an insignificant impact. The costs of handling goods and the infrastructure charges are highly influential variables. Conclusion High-speed rail track access charges are a suitable political instrument to create a level playing field between the transport modes and internalize external costs of freight transport. With the given access charge structure, a reduction of the maximum operating speed to 160 km/h has a positive impact on the expected mode share of rail transport while it still reacts positively to a wide range of the cargo’s time sensitivity (compared to a maximum operating speed of 350 km/h). The flexibility of rail freight’s operating speed is important for an effective implementation. Further research should concentrate on time- and cost-efficient transhipment terminals as they have a significant impact on transport performance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T22:30:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-520757d8ad3b4bb4ab92f4fed479123c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1867-0717 1866-8887 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T22:30:33Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Transport Research Review |
| spelling | doaj.art-520757d8ad3b4bb4ab92f4fed479123c2022-12-21T21:30:13ZengSpringerOpenEuropean Transport Research Review1867-07171866-88872021-01-0113111110.1186/s12544-020-00453-3The potential of high-speed rail freight in Europe: how is a modal shift from road to rail possible for low-density high value cargo?Mathias Boehm0Marlin Arnz1Joachim Winter2German Aerospace Centre (DLR), Institute of Vehicle ConceptsTechnische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin), Workgroup for Infrastructure Policy (WIP)German Aerospace Centre (DLR), Institute of Vehicle ConceptsAbstract Purpose A fully electrified transport chain offers considerable potential for CO2 savings. In this paper, we examine the conditions necessary to introduce a fully electrified, large-scale, high-speed rail freight transport system in Europe in addition to high-speed passenger trains, aiming to shift goods transport from road to rail. We compare a novel high-speed rail freight concept with road-based lorry transport for low-density high value goods to estimate the potential for a modal shift from road to rail in 2030. Methods To characterize the impacts of different framework conditions, a simulation tool was designed as a discrete choice model, based on random utility theory, with integrated performance calculation assessing the full multimodal transport chain regarding costs, emissions and time. It was applied to a European reference scenario based on forecast data for freight traffic in 2030. Results We show that high-speed rail freight is about 70% more expensive than the conventional lorry but emits 80% less CO2 emissions for the baseline parameter setting. The expected mode share largely depends on the cargo’s value of time, while the implementation of a CO2-tax of 100 EUR/tCO2eq has an insignificant impact. The costs of handling goods and the infrastructure charges are highly influential variables. Conclusion High-speed rail track access charges are a suitable political instrument to create a level playing field between the transport modes and internalize external costs of freight transport. With the given access charge structure, a reduction of the maximum operating speed to 160 km/h has a positive impact on the expected mode share of rail transport while it still reacts positively to a wide range of the cargo’s time sensitivity (compared to a maximum operating speed of 350 km/h). The flexibility of rail freight’s operating speed is important for an effective implementation. Further research should concentrate on time- and cost-efficient transhipment terminals as they have a significant impact on transport performance.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12544-020-00453-3High-speed rail freightMultimodal freightModal splitModal shiftLow-density high value goods |
| spellingShingle | Mathias Boehm Marlin Arnz Joachim Winter The potential of high-speed rail freight in Europe: how is a modal shift from road to rail possible for low-density high value cargo? European Transport Research Review High-speed rail freight Multimodal freight Modal split Modal shift Low-density high value goods |
| title | The potential of high-speed rail freight in Europe: how is a modal shift from road to rail possible for low-density high value cargo? |
| title_full | The potential of high-speed rail freight in Europe: how is a modal shift from road to rail possible for low-density high value cargo? |
| title_fullStr | The potential of high-speed rail freight in Europe: how is a modal shift from road to rail possible for low-density high value cargo? |
| title_full_unstemmed | The potential of high-speed rail freight in Europe: how is a modal shift from road to rail possible for low-density high value cargo? |
| title_short | The potential of high-speed rail freight in Europe: how is a modal shift from road to rail possible for low-density high value cargo? |
| title_sort | potential of high speed rail freight in europe how is a modal shift from road to rail possible for low density high value cargo |
| topic | High-speed rail freight Multimodal freight Modal split Modal shift Low-density high value goods |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12544-020-00453-3 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mathiasboehm thepotentialofhighspeedrailfreightineuropehowisamodalshiftfromroadtorailpossibleforlowdensityhighvaluecargo AT marlinarnz thepotentialofhighspeedrailfreightineuropehowisamodalshiftfromroadtorailpossibleforlowdensityhighvaluecargo AT joachimwinter thepotentialofhighspeedrailfreightineuropehowisamodalshiftfromroadtorailpossibleforlowdensityhighvaluecargo AT mathiasboehm potentialofhighspeedrailfreightineuropehowisamodalshiftfromroadtorailpossibleforlowdensityhighvaluecargo AT marlinarnz potentialofhighspeedrailfreightineuropehowisamodalshiftfromroadtorailpossibleforlowdensityhighvaluecargo AT joachimwinter potentialofhighspeedrailfreightineuropehowisamodalshiftfromroadtorailpossibleforlowdensityhighvaluecargo |