Connecting rail’s next opportunity

Practical pathways to lower emissions in passenger and freight rail

Rail already provides an efficient way to move passengers and freight across cities, regions and supply chains. The next opportunity is to reduce emissions further while maintaining the reliability, productivity and asset performance rail networks depend on.
Downer’s white paper, Connecting rail’s next opportunity, explores practical pathways to rail decarbonisation, from making better use of existing assets to preparing fleets for emerging propulsion and energy technologies.

What does a practical rail decarbonisation pathway look like?

There is no single pathway to lower-emission rail. What works depends on the operating task, route, duty cycle, existing infrastructure, energy requirements and asset lifecycle.
For many operators, the transition can be staged:

• Optimise today by improving the efficiency, utilisation and performance of existing assets
• Modernise with tomorrow in mind by using planned lifecycle investment to keep future energy and propulsion options open
• Let the task lead the technology by considering the route, duty cycle, infrastructure and operating environment
• Think beyond the technology by considering rollingstock, infrastructure, energy and operations as an interconnected system.

How can existing rail fleets reduce emissions today?

Lower emissions do not always require new rollingstock.
Better planning, reduced idling, driver support and improvements in asset performance can reduce energy consumption while supporting productivity and reliability. Planned modernisation can also help prepare existing fleets for future energy and propulsion options.

How can passenger and freight rail decarbonise?

Passenger and freight rail will follow different pathways, but the starting point is the same: understand the operating task before selecting the technology.
For passenger rail, battery-enabled rollingstock could extend lower-emission operation beyond electrified sections where route, energy demand and charging requirements support it.
For freight rail, battery-electric locomotives may suit defined-duty applications such as selected shunting, port-shuttle and short-haul operations. Long-distance and heavy-haul freight present different energy, infrastructure and operational requirements.

What is needed to support lower-emission rail?

Technology is only part of the transition. Rollingstock, energy supply, charging or fuelling infrastructure, network interfaces, maintenance and operations all need to work together.
The opportunity is to make the most of today’s assets, prepare for what comes next and introduce new technologies where they can deliver real value.

FAQs

What is the best technology for decarbonising rail?

There is no single technology suited to every rail application. The appropriate pathway depends on the operating task, existing assets and infrastructure, network requirements and asset life.

Can existing diesel fleets reduce emissions without being replaced?

Yes. For many operators, the first opportunity is to improve the performance of assets and networks already in service. Operational optimisation, idle-reduction technology, better asset information and targeted modernisation can help reduce fuel use and emissions.

Where could battery-electric locomotives be suitable?

Battery-electric locomotives are most likely to suit defined freight applications where the duty cycle, route and charging requirements are clearly defined, including selected shunting, port-shuttle and short-haul operations.

Can batteries support passenger services beyond electrified networks?

Battery-enabled rollingstock provides one potential pathway for partially electrified networks. A train can draw power from the overhead network where it exists, operate on onboard battery power beyond the electrified section and recharge when it returns to the electrified network.

Why does rail decarbonisation require a whole-system approach?

Because decarbonising rail extends beyond rollingstock. Infrastructure, energy supply, charging or fuelling requirements, maintenance and operations form part of an interconnected system.