Sustainability in Railways – Green on Track

The rail industry plays a central role in shaping the future of global transport. Although the railway is already the most sustainable mode of transport, the Green Deal and the associated developments are making sustainability in railways a top priority.

Sustainability in Railways Challenges

Sustainability has become one of the most pressing global issues as we look for ways to reduce our impact on the environment. Decarbonisation is a global imperative, and the rail industry has become a beacon of sustainability.

The goal is to make rail transport more environmentally friendly, socially acceptable, and economically viable. In assessing the sustainability of rail vehicles, regulations, standards, and rating schemes for sustainability evaluation must be considered:

• Energy efficiency
• Supply chains
• Life cycles
• Carbon footprint
• Raw material extraction
• Manufacturing processes
• Working conditions

To date, there is no comprehensive assessment tool that holistically evaluates and compares the sustainability efforts of the individual economic players in the railway industry. This complexity, combined with increasing reporting obligations, presents companies with major challenges when assessing their sustainability status: They need to find out what is relevant to them, what their competitors are doing and what they need to disclose.

What is Green on Track?

Green on Track is a holistic approach to order and assess sustainability of railway systems.

This enables railway operators, product and component manufacturers to measure sustainability according to the individual aspects.
Different methods are therefor in focus:

• SDG assessment
• ESG framework
• Determination of the carbon footprint
• Life cycle assessments

The results of these assessments serve customers as a basis for developing a sustainability strategy or can be used as evidence for reporting to European regulations such as CSDDD or CSRD.

How can TÜV SÜD Help You with Sustainability in Railways?

The issue of sustainability in railways is different for each specific company. Some companies are already well-positioned in terms of sustainability, while others are just beginning to address the issue.

No matter what the current level is, we start with a status analysis before applying the most suitable assessment method.

As we fully understand the complexities and interlinking nature of the various rail tasks, we offer you world-class insights and practical advice based on industry best practice. We can support you throughout your sustainability journey to deliver green mobility solutions across the entire value chain. We are also globally accredited and recognised as a specialist railway inspection body, testing body and certification body, as well as a Notified Body (NoBo), Designated Body (DeBo) and Assessment Body (AsBo).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)