Carbon emissions reduction potentiality for railroad transportation based on life cycle assessment

This study addresses the comparative carbon emissions of different transportation modes within a unified evaluation framework, focusing on their carbon footprints from inception to disposal. Specifically, the entire life cycle carbon emissions of High-Speed Rail (HSR), battery electric vehicles, conventional internal combustion engine vehicles, battery electric buses, and conventional internal combustion engine buses are analyzed. The life cycle is segmented into vehicle manufacturing, fuel or electricity production, operational, and dismantling-recycling stages. This analysis is applied to the Beijing-Tianjin intercity transportation system to explore emission reduction strategies. Results indicate that HSR demonstrates significant carbon emission reduction, with an intensity of only 24 %–32 % compared to private vehicles and 47 %–89 % compared to buses. Notably, HSR travel for Beijing-Tianjin intercity emits only 24 % of private vehicle emissions, demonstrating the emission reduction benefits of transportation structure optimization. Additionally, predictive modeling reveals the potential for carbon emission reduction through energy structure optimization, providing a guideline for the development of effective transportation management systems.