Having been in service for nearly 200 years, the railway system still meets all requirements of sustainable, future-orientated mobility. Railway infrastructure creates the structural basis for environmentally friendly rail transport.
With innovative construction technologies and sustainable materials management, railway construction sites can be set up in a greener way. Impacts on the environment are minimized, and resources are used sparingly. We base this ecological construction method on five factors to ensure long-term sustainability of the infrastructure:
Factor 1
Materials management and logistics
The deliveries of machines and the transport of superstructure materials require several lorry journeys, most of which have to be handled via the existing road network. This produces large amounts of CO₂, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. With our assembly-line method, the materials are transported on tracks within the construction site. Logistics are handled 100% by rail.
Factor 2
No additional infrastructure
The track-bound working method eliminates the need for additional access roads or purpose-built construction roads. They often lead through forests or across agricultural land. Eliminating lorry transport thus means fewer materials and less interference with nature.
A sensible circular economy and the reuse of materials saves costs and also helps to reduce Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions. ÖBB-Infrastruktur uses large quantities of raw materials every year. Railway ballast (superstructure ballast) makes up the bulk of this, of which around 700,000 tonnes are procured each year. Concrete sleepers are in second place with around 60,000 tonnes per year. The third most important input in terms of quantity is rails, at around 30,000 tonnes per year, all of which can be reused.
By defining the materials to be used, in particular the use of concrete sleepers instead of creosote-treated wooden sleepers, all these materials can be largely reinstalled or recycled at the end of their long service life. The ability to recycle and reuse are also ecological award criteria when procuring materials.
Source: Sustainability Report 2021, ÖBB-Holding AG
Factor 3
Protecting the environment
Construction sites are a great burden on the environment. Above all, local residents and the environment suffer from particulate matter and noise. In addition, lorries in residential areas are a burden. Handling all material logistics by rail reduces emissions and also protects local residents.
Factor 4
Sustainable use of resources
A decisive factor in sustainability and the circular economy is the conservation of natural resources. In the course of the track-bound renewal process, materials can be reprocessed and used again directly on-site. This saves time, transport, and materials.
Factor 5
Faster renewal times
Short construction times also reduce the environmental impact. The use of large machines reduces both the intensity of the construction site and its duration. This minimizes closure times and the disruption to rail operations. Depending on the applicable regulations, track-bound renewal methods also allow trains to run on the adjacent track.
In terms of environmental impact indicators,
track-bound renewal methods are more than
30% more environmentally friendly than conventional
railway construction sites.
By using them, infrastructure managers improve
their environmental compatibility, the life cycle
assessment of the infrastructure, and continue
to strengthen the image of the green rail.
Source: „Nachhaltigkeit und Ökologie im Eisenbahnbau“
Klügel, Lieberenz; ETR May 2017, No. 5
