Abstract
Electric trains (ET) and hydrogen trains (HT) are considered zero emission at the point of use. True emissions are dependent upon non-tailpipe sources, primarily in energy production. We present UK carbon dioxide (CO2) operating emission model outputs for conventionally fuelled trains (CFT), ETs and HTs between 2017 and 2050 under four National Grid electricity generation scenarios.Comparing four service categories (urban, regional, intercity and high speed) to private conventionally fuelled vehicles (CFV) and electric vehicles considering average distance travelled per trip under different passenger capacity levels (125%, 100%, 75%, 50% and 25%).Results indicate by 2050 at 100% capacity CFTs produce a fifth of the emissions of CFVs per kilometre per person. Under two degree generation scenario, by 2050 ETs produced 14 times and HTs produced five times less emissions than CFTs. Policymakers should encourage shifts away from private vehicles to public transport powered by low carbon electricity.
Highlights
The UK has set an ambitious target of net zero emissions by 2050 to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions under the 2015 Paris Agreement as part of the global effort to tackle climate change (CCC, 2019; Pye et al, 2017)
Results indicate by 2050 at 100% capacity conventionally fuelled trains (CFT) produce a fifth of the emissions of conventionally fuelled vehicles (CFV) per kilometre per person
Results from urban rail are compared to personal vehicles (CFVs and electric vehicles (EVs)) in Section 3.5 to determine whether trains are the more favourable method of transport in terms of reducing emission levels
Summary
The UK has set an ambitious target of net zero emissions by 2050 to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions under the 2015 Paris Agreement as part of the global effort to tackle climate change (CCC, 2019; Pye et al, 2017). The objective of this paper is to analyse emissions from electric trains (ETs), hydrogen trains (HTs) and conventionally fuelled trains (CFTs) and compare these results with private CFVs and electric vehicles (EVs) for passenger transport, through four different energy generation scenarios from the UK National Grid (National Grid, 2019). Rail service type will be differentiated by urban, regional, intercity and high speed to take into consideration the distance travelled and to account for shorter train journeys made within cities. These are compared in terms of emissions per passenger kilometreto private vehicles (CFVs or EVs).
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