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What is sustainability in railways?
Sustainability has become one of the most pressing global issues as we look for ways to reduce our environmental impact. Decarbonisation is a global imperative, and the rail industry has become a beacon of sustainability. Although rail is already the most sustainable mode of transport, the European Green Deal and its associated developments are making sustainability in railways an even bigger priority.
This is why TÜV SÜD has developed a holistic railway sustainability evaluation programme called Green on Track. It enables railway operators and product and component manufacturers to measure sustainability according to the individual aspects. The goal is to make rail transport more environmentally friendly, socially acceptable, and economically viable.
Why sustainability in railways is important
The growing environmental awareness around the world means there is increasing pressure on the railway industry to adopt sustainable practices. Government, commerce, and the general public all expect that the rail industry should minimise environmental impact.
As a natural progression of this, regulations and standards are emerging around the world. These include strict emissions reduction targets. Meeting these regulations is vital for the rail industry to comply with legal requirements and avoid penalties.
Energy-efficient technologies, waste reduction, and operations optimisation can deliver environmental benefits. In addition, they can also bring you long-term cost savings.
By demonstrating a commitment to sustainability, you are also likely to attract more customers, investors, and business partners. You can align with the sustainability requirements of others in the supply chain so that they will continue working with you.
As a result of all the above, an organisation’s sustainability behaviour directly impacts its bottom line. This is why the rail industry must consider environmental issues in its activities and those of its suppliers.
To date, there is no comprehensive assessment tool that holistically evaluates and compares the sustainability efforts of 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.
How TÜV SÜD can help you with sustainability in railways
TÜV SÜD offers you world-class insights and practical advice based on industry best practices. Our deep understanding of the complexities and interlinking nature of various rail tasks helps us do that.
We will start with a status analysis that assesses how well-positioned your company is when it comes to sustainability in railways. By assessing your current level, we will apply the most suitable assessment method.
Our experts can support you throughout your sustainability journey to deliver green mobility solutions across the entire value chain.
We are globally accredited and recognised as a specialist railway inspection body, testing body, and certification body. We are also a Notified Body (NoBo), Designated Body (DeBo) and Assessment Body (AsBo).
What our railway sustainability evaluation services include
Our services have the goal of making rail transport more environmentally friendly, socially acceptable, and economically viable. We assess the sustainability of rail vehicles according to regulations, standards, and rating schemes for sustainability evaluation. We consider the following railway sustainability indicators:
- Energy efficiency
- Supply chains
- Life cycles
- Carbon footprint
- Raw material extraction
- Manufacturing processes
- Working conditions
We use different methods for our assessments:
- 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. They can also be used as evidence for reporting to European regulations such as CSDDD or CSRD.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How does the rail industry play a pivotal role in sustainability?
In the global fight against climate change, the focus is on reducing energy consumption, and many nations have set ambitious goals to minimise carbon emissions. Consequently, the railway industry has emerged as a beacon of sustainability as it can move large numbers of people or goods with less energy consumption, making it more energy efficient than other modes of transport.
Trains produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions per passenger or tonne of freight compared to other modes of transportation. This contributes to mitigating climate change and improving air quality. Also, by moving goods and people off the roads, the rail infrastructure helps to reduce traffic and lower fuel consumption and emissions. This in turn promotes multimodal transportation as rail systems connect with other transport modes such as buses, bicycles, and pathways.
The railway industry will continue to play a pivotal role in the future of sustainability through technology innovations such as electric trains, which offer numerous benefits, including lower emissions, reduced noise pollution, and enhanced energy efficiency. Also, when hydrogen is used as a fuel source, trains produce zero-emission exhausts as they emit only water vapour and heat as by-products.
The railway industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation driven by digitalisation and sustainability. It will play a crucial role in shaping the future of global transportation as high-speed rail networks and smart technologies expand. These trends not only enhance the industry's operational efficiency, they also contribute to a more sustainable and interconnected world.
The future of sustainability in railways will continue to evolve as the efficient and reliable movement of people and goods increasingly becomes a top priority.
Trains produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions per passenger or tonne of freight compared to other modes of transportation. This contributes to mitigating climate change and improving air quality. Also, by moving goods and people off the roads, the rail infrastructure helps to reduce traffic and lower fuel consumption and emissions. This in turn promotes multimodal transportation as rail systems connect with other transport modes such as buses, bicycles, and pathways.
The railway industry will continue to play a pivotal role in the future of sustainability through technology innovations such as electric trains, which offer numerous benefits, including lower emissions, reduced noise pollution, and enhanced energy efficiency. Also, when hydrogen is used as a fuel source, trains produce zero-emission exhausts as they emit only water vapour and heat as by-products.
The railway industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation driven by digitalisation and sustainability. It will play a crucial role in shaping the future of global transportation as high-speed rail networks and smart technologies expand. These trends not only enhance the industry's operational efficiency, they also contribute to a more sustainable and interconnected world.
The future of sustainability in railways will continue to evolve as the efficient and reliable movement of people and goods increasingly becomes a top priority.
What are the key regulations and standards for sustainability in railways?
Regulations, standards and rating schemes for sustainability in railways vary by country and region, but there are common areas, including:
• Emissions standards – Limiting emissions from locomotives and rail operations.
• Energy efficiency – Regulations and guidelines focused on improving the energy efficiency of rail operations, such as the use of energy-efficient technologies in locomotives and rolling stock.
• Noise regulations – Mitigation measures such as sound barriers and quieter track can stop railways from generating significant noise pollution.
• Waste management – Requirements for recycling, waste reduction, and proper disposal for solid waste, wastewater, and hazardous materials etc.
• Water management – Requirements relating to water quality and availability, such as stormwater management, pollution prevention, and water conservation measures.
• Biodiversity protection – Environmental impact assessments and mitigation measures may be required to minimise impacts, alongside habitat restoration and conservation initiatives.
• Procurement – A focus on promoting sustainable procurement, such as using sustainable products, as well as evaluating suppliers and contractors’ sustainability performance.
Wider concepts also apply to the railway industry. For example, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) are a set of 17 targets intended to contribute to a better, more sustainable future for all. Likewise, the GRI Standards enable an organisation to understand and report on their impacts on the economy, environment and people, thereby increasing transparency on their contribution to sustainable development. Meanwhile, the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) provide information for investors to understand the sustainability impact of the companies in which they invest.
• Emissions standards – Limiting emissions from locomotives and rail operations.
• Energy efficiency – Regulations and guidelines focused on improving the energy efficiency of rail operations, such as the use of energy-efficient technologies in locomotives and rolling stock.
• Noise regulations – Mitigation measures such as sound barriers and quieter track can stop railways from generating significant noise pollution.
• Waste management – Requirements for recycling, waste reduction, and proper disposal for solid waste, wastewater, and hazardous materials etc.
• Water management – Requirements relating to water quality and availability, such as stormwater management, pollution prevention, and water conservation measures.
• Biodiversity protection – Environmental impact assessments and mitigation measures may be required to minimise impacts, alongside habitat restoration and conservation initiatives.
• Procurement – A focus on promoting sustainable procurement, such as using sustainable products, as well as evaluating suppliers and contractors’ sustainability performance.
Wider concepts also apply to the railway industry. For example, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) are a set of 17 targets intended to contribute to a better, more sustainable future for all. Likewise, the GRI Standards enable an organisation to understand and report on their impacts on the economy, environment and people, thereby increasing transparency on their contribution to sustainable development. Meanwhile, the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) provide information for investors to understand the sustainability impact of the companies in which they invest.
What makes TÜV SÜD’s Green on Track service different?
Until TÜV SÜD introduced Green on Track, there was no single sustainability assessment of railway systems that could objectively evaluate and compare the sustainability efforts of individual rail industry businesses.
Green on Track enables railway stakeholders to comprehensively assess their sustainability performance by defining requirements in the relevant rail transport sustainability areas. Our independent and comprehensive sustainability assessment goes beyond any other life cycle evaluation, delivering a completely holistic assessment of a product’s environmental impact based on many railway sustainability indicators.
The result is an objective comparison of the sustainability performance of different rail manufacturers or operators, giving you the ability to identify targeted improvement measures.
Green on Track enables railway stakeholders to comprehensively assess their sustainability performance by defining requirements in the relevant rail transport sustainability areas. Our independent and comprehensive sustainability assessment goes beyond any other life cycle evaluation, delivering a completely holistic assessment of a product’s environmental impact based on many railway sustainability indicators.
The result is an objective comparison of the sustainability performance of different rail manufacturers or operators, giving you the ability to identify targeted improvement measures.
