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Assessment and Recommendations for a Fossil Free Future for Track Work Machinery

Author

Listed:
  • Martina Zeiner

    (Institute of Railway Engineering and Transport Economy, Graz University of Technology, Rechbauerstraße 12, 8010 Graz, Austria)

  • Matthias Landgraf

    (Institute of Railway Engineering and Transport Economy, Graz University of Technology, Rechbauerstraße 12, 8010 Graz, Austria)

  • Dieter Knabl

    (Institute of Railway Engineering and Transport Economy, Graz University of Technology, Rechbauerstraße 12, 8010 Graz, Austria)

  • Bernhard Antony

    (Plasser & Theurer, Johannesgasse 3, 1010 Vienna, Austria)

  • Víctor Barrena Cárdenas

    (Plasser & Theurer, Johannesgasse 3, 1010 Vienna, Austria)

  • Christian Koczwara

    (Plasser & Theurer, Pummererstraße 5, 4021 Linz, Austria)

Abstract

Current railway track work machinery is mainly operated with diesel fuel. As a result, track maintenance of Austrian Federal Railways (OeBB) amounts to nearly 9000 t CO 2 equivalent per year according to calculations from Graz University of Technology. OeBB’s total length of railway lines only accounts for 0.56% of the world’s length of lines. This indicates huge potential for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions considering the need for track maintenance worldwide. Environmental concerns have led to the introduction of alternative drives in the transport sector. Until now, R&D (Research & Development) of alternative propulsion technologies for track work machinery has been widely neglected. This paper examines the possibility of achieving zero direct emissions during maintenance and construction work in railways by switching to alternative drives. The goal is to analyze alternative propulsion solutions arising from the transport sector and to assess their applicability to track work machinery. Research results, together with a calculation tool, show that available battery technology is recommendable for energy demands lower than 300 kWh per construction shift. Hydrogen fuel cell technology is an alternative for energy demands higher than 800 kWh. For machinery with energy requirements in between, enhancements in battery technology are necessary and desirable for the coming years.

Suggested Citation

  • Martina Zeiner & Matthias Landgraf & Dieter Knabl & Bernhard Antony & Víctor Barrena Cárdenas & Christian Koczwara, 2021. "Assessment and Recommendations for a Fossil Free Future for Track Work Machinery," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-23, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:20:p:11444-:d:657948
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Šimun Lončarević & Petar Ilinčić & Goran Šagi & Zoran Lulić, 2022. "Problems and Directions in Creating a National Non-Road Mobile Machinery Emission Inventory: A Critical Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-16, March.
    2. Šimun Lončarević & Petar Ilinčić & Goran Šagi & Zoran Lulić, 2023. "Development of a Spatial Tier 2 Emission Inventory for Agricultural Tractors by Combining Two Large-Scale Datasets," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-19, August.
    3. Šimun Lončarević & Petar Ilinčić & Zoran Lulić & Darko Kozarac, 2022. "Developing a Spatial Emission Inventory of Agricultural Machinery in Croatia by Using Large-Scale Survey Data," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-18, November.
    4. Dieter Knabl & Matthias Landgraf, 2023. "In-Depth Lifecycle Assessment of Ballasted Railway Track and Slab Track Considering Varying Subsoil Conditions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-15, August.

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