Highlights Travel modes globally perform as follows: coach > HSR > carpooling > private car > plane. The life cycle carbon footprint of HSR modes ranges [30–120] gCO2eq/pkt worldwide. The HSR carbon payback is reached after 60 years with BAU flight trip substitutions. It falls under 10 years with a short-haul flight ban: HSR can decarbonize mobility. But coach or minimal long-distance mobility are better options to reach net-zero.
Abstract Long-distance mobility sustainability, high-speed railways (HSR) decarbonization effect, and bans for short-haul flights are debated in Europe. Yet, holistic environmental assessments on these topics are scarce. A comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted on the Paris-Bordeaux transportation options in France: HSR, plane, coach, personal car, and carpooling. The overall ranking on four environmental indicators, from best to worst, is as follows: coach, HSR, carpooling, private car, and plane. Scenario analyses showed that increasing train occupancy decreases the environmental impact of the mode (-12 %), while decreasing speed does not. Moreover, worldwide carbon footprints of electric HSR modes range 30–120 gCO2eq per passenger-kilometer traveled. Finally, a consequential LCA highlighted carbon paybacks of the HSR project. Under a business-as-usual trip substitution scenario, the HSR gets net-zero 60 years after construction. With a short-haul flight ban, it occurs after 10 years. This advocates for generalizing short-haul flight restrictions and investing in HSR infrastructure.
Banning short-haul flights and investing in high-speed railways for a sustainable future?
2023-11-14
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
VERY SHORT HAUL FLIGHTS, AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMPARISON WITH SURFACE TRANSPORT
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2007
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