Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Decarbonizing regional passenger rail is a key challenge for sustainable transport development in Poland. Although rail remains one of the least carbon-intensive modes, significant emission disparities persist between electrified and non-electrified lines, where diesel traction dominates. This study compares diesel, hybrid, battery-electric, and hydrogen propulsion technologies using both tank-to-wheel (TTW) and well-to-wheel (WTW) emission analyses. A methodological framework is proposed to estimate emissions at the individual line level, incorporating Poland’s energy mix. The results highlight that prioritizing only in-situ zero-emission technologies may lead to inefficiencies and even increased overall emissions. Hybrid and optimized combustion systems may offer more effective short-term decarbonization in rural and transitional regions. The paper also critiques current transport funding policies, noting a mismatch between subsidies for private electric vehicles and the lack of support for public rail services. The findings offer a foundation for developing more realistic and context-specific strategies for rail transport decarbonization.
Source: Energies
DOI: 10.3390/en18225900
Authors: Mateusz Jüngst, Wojciech Sawczuk
Institution: Poznań University of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Transportation
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,137
Funder: Politechnika Poznańska
Award: G1896738421
OpenAlex ID: W4416089141