The European Association of European Rail Rolling Stock Lessors (AERRL) has signed a cooperation agreement with Infrabel, Belgium’s infrastructure manager, to advance the decarbonisation of rail freight.
This agreement marks the start of the second phase of AERRL’s study on achieving zero-emission transport.
Following a first report published with European financial institutions, which laid the groundwork for replacing diesel traction and designing a decarbonisation roadmap, the new phase will analyse the feasibility of alternative systems.
These include biofuels such as hydrotreated vegetable oils, ammonia and renewable natural gas, hybrid solutions and fully electrified systems.
AERRL, with the support of the German consultancy Eolos, will document three representative use cases: long-haul freight traffic, manoeuvring in port areas and short national routes. Infrabel will lead a cost-benefit analysis from a social perspective, the results of which will guide future policies and investments.
The aim is to lay the foundations for a European roadmap to reduce rail transport emissions by 90% by 2050, in line with the European Green Pact.