Reducing the environmental impact of road and rail vehicles

• Published in: Environmental impact assessment review Vol. 32; no. 1; pp. 25 - 32
• Main Authors: Mayer, R.M., Poulikakos, L.D., Lees, A.R., Heutschi, K., Kalivoda, M.T., Soltic, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.01.2012
• Subjects: AIR POLLUTION; Borders; ENVIRONMENT; Environmental effects; Environmental impact; Environmental impact studies; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS; ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; Europe; Gaseous emissions; Intermodal; Noise; NOISE POLLUTION; RAIL TRANSPORT; Rail vehicles; Rails; Railway transport; Road traffic; ROAD TRANSPORT; Road vehicles; Roads; Transport; Transport infrastructure; Transport policy; VEHICLES; Weigh-in-motion; Environmental impacts; Rail vehicles; Gaseous emissions; Road vehicles; Weigh-in-motion; Noise
• ISSN: 0195-9255; 1873-6432
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eiar.2011.02.001

Methods have been developed to measure in situ the dynamic impact of both road and rail vehicles on the infrastructure and the environment. The resulting data sets have been analysed to quantify the environmental impacts in a transparent manner across both modes. A primary concern is that a small number of vehicles are being operated outside safe or regulatory limits which can have a disproportionate large impact. The analysis enables the various impacts to be ranked across both modes so enabling one to discern the benefits of intermodal transport. The impact of various policy options is considered and how to identify vehicles which can be classified as environmentally friendly. This would require European agreement as many heavy goods vehicle operate across country borders.