Energy Efficiency of Rail and Road Transport in Freight Operations

This study focuses on the energy intensity of rail and road freight transport. The research compares different types of vehicles in both modes of transport with the aim of quantifying the amount of energy required to transport a specific volume of freight over a given distance. Several generations of electric and diesel locomotives were selected for measurement purposes, along with comparable road freight vehicles that are commonly used in operation. Real-world energy consumption measurements were carried out on a section of route where the rail and road routes run parallel, with the aim of determining which mode of transport is more energy-efficient in the context of freight transport, using real operational data.