The objective of this study, commissioned by the Bundesverband Güterkraftverkehr Logistik und Entsorgung (BGL) e.V. and the International Road Transport Union (IRU), was to compare key environmental impacts of transporting, over a given European route, one load unit by road only and the same load unit by combined road/rail transport. The general assumption is that rail freight transport consumes less primary energy and produces less CO2 emissions than road transport. For bulk freight transport over long distances by direct rail link, this might be true. When it comes to smaller shipments and destinations which lack their own rail sidings, however, the situation is quite different.
Comparative Analysis of Energy Consumption and CO2 Emissions of Road Transport and Combined Transport Road/Rail
The objective of this study, commissioned by the Bundesverband Güterkraftverkehr Logistik und Entsorgung (BGL) e.V. and the International Road Transport Union (IRU), was to compare key environmental impacts of transporting, over a given European route, one load unit by road only and the same load unit by combined road/rail transport. The general assumption is that rail freight transport consumes less primary energy and produces less CO2 emissions than road transport. For bulk freight transport over long distances by direct rail link, this might be true. When it comes to smaller shipments and destinations which lack their own rail sidings, however, the situation is quite different.
Published on: 01/01/2002 - 08:38
Author: BGL (Bundesverband Güterkraftverkehr Logistik und Entsorgung), IRU
Type of document: Reports & publications
Category: Decarbonisation, Goods transport
Region: Europe
Size: 12 pages
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