Abstract
This review paper highlights feasible and practicable approaches for managing end-of-life rolling stocks. It aims to promote and enable sustainable procurement policy for rolling stocks. Firstly, it demonstrates that modern rolling stocks can potentially gain the environmental benefits since almost all of their materials used in the rolling stock manufacturing can be recycled and reused. In this study, a brief definition and concept of various train types are introduced and discussed, accompanied by some demonstrative illustrations. Then, component analyses, recovery rates and percent proportion of each material in various rolling stock assemblies have been evaluated. The estimation of material quantities that can potentially be recycled has been carried out using industry data sources. The suitable management procedures for end-of-life rail vehicles are then discussed, together with the life cycle of the key materials in which the recyclability criteria take into account the environmental risks and the best and safest approaches to deal with them. The aim of this study is to increase the awareness of the public, train manufacturers and rail industries on the benefits to the environment from rolling stock recycling, which could result in sustainable society and urban livings.
Highlights
This research study portrays the importance and significance of having an appropriate disposal management of the end-of-life rolling stocks
There is a group of manufacturers (e.g., Bombardier, Alstom, Siemens, etc.) offering rolling stock vehicles that are fully designed to meet the needs for rolling stock recovery and recycling
The combined recycling and recovery rate for rolling stock can potentially reach up to 95%
Summary
This research study portrays the importance and significance of having an appropriate disposal management of the end-of-life rolling stocks. Manufacturers and owners of rolling stocks must respect ecological aspects and ensure that necessary activities are carried out to minimize environmental impacts. When producing new rolling stocks, the manufacturers must consider the whole vehicle life cycle, including production (design, building and manufacture), use (operation and maintenance) and, the end of life (vehicle disposal), which is the main point of this research. The last stage of life cycle of rolling stocks can be considered successful if it achieves the principle of the ‘3R’: reduce, reuse and recycle. Considering the future environmental impacts, the procurement and design stages of new rail vehicles should consider a reduction in the amount of waste generated after the disposal of rolling stock materials. The amount of the generated waste should be recycled as much as possible
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
