Abstract

The objective of this paper is to determine the environmental impact of rail freight transport in Belgium using the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. The study includes the assessment of diesel trains, electric trains and rail freight transport considering the Belgian traction mix. Moreover, a comparison of the environmental impacts of electric trains using the electricity supply mix of different European countries has been performed. The rail freight transport system has been divided into three sub-systems: rail transport operation, rail equipment and rail infrastructure. The system approach of the LCA methodology involves studying both the direct processes connected with the transport activity (e.g. energy consumption or direct emissions), as well as other necessary elements for rail transport such as energy production, rolling stock and railway infrastructure. A comprehensive study of the Belgian railway network has been performed, collecting country-specific data on the construction, maintenance and disposal of infrastructure. Electric trains present a better environmental performance than diesel trains in Belgium. For example, the use of electric trains (using the Belgian electricity supply mix of 2012) rather than diesel trains represents a reduction of 26% of environmental impact on climate change. The electricity supply mix contributes significantly to the environmental performance of electric trains. As the use of electric trains increases in future, the energy split for the electricity generation will be more important in the environmental impacts of goods transport. The increased use of electric trains represents an opportunity to attain a more environmentally and energy-efficient rail freight transport system, especially when they are powered by sustainable electricity.

Graphic abstract

中文翻译：

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比利时铁路货运的生命周期评估

摘要

本文的目的是使用生命周期评估（LCA）方法确定比利时铁路货运对环境的影响。该研究包括对柴油火车，电动火车和铁路运输的评估，其中考虑了比利时的牵引方式。此外，使用欧洲不同国家的电力供应组合对电动火车的环境影响进行了比较。铁路货运系统分为三个子系统：铁路运输运营，铁路设备和铁路基础设施。LCA方法的系统方法包括研究与运输活动有关的直接过程（例如，能源消耗或直接排放），以及其他轨道运输必需要素，例如能源生产，机车车辆和铁路基础设施。已对比利时铁路网进行了全面研究，收集了有关基础设施建设，维护和处置的国家特定数据。在比利时，电动火车比柴油火车具有更好的环保性能。例如，使用电动火车（使用2012年比利时的电力供应结构）而不是柴油火车，可以减少26％的环境对气候变化的影响。电力供应组合对电动火车的环境性能有很大贡献。随着将来使用电动火车的增加，用于发电的能量分配在货物运输的环境影响中将更加重要。

图形摘要