Page 401 - 360.revista de Alta Velocidad - Nº 6

Sustainability of HSR as a mass transportation mode in terms of efficient use of natural resources

Table 4.1 Comparisons of different high-speed rolling stock in term of speed,
power output and type of trains. Data taken from several sources.

Train Maximum Speed Km/h Power output Type of train

AGV 360 5,760 kW Electric multiple unit
Shinkansen-Series 500 300 18,240 kW Electric multiple unit
Shinkansen-Series 700 270 13,200 kW Electric multiple unit

Talgo 350 330 8,000 kW Two Power Cars
Frecciarossa 300 9,800 kW Electric multiple unit

ICE1 280 9,600 kW Two Power Cars
ICE2 280 4,800 kW One Power Car

ICE3 330 8,000 kW Two Power Cars
SJ X2 200 3,260 kW One Power Car

Acela Express 240 9,200 kW Two Power Cars
CRH1 200 5,300 kW Electric multiple unit

CRH3C 350 8,800 kW Electric multiple unit
Zefiro 300 360 9,800 kW Electric multiple unit

Table 4.1 shows selected high speed trains and what power output is required. With the
introduction of the SJ X2 long distance trains in Sweden, the average speed increased by 44%,
travel time was reduced by 30% from 4-hour 25 min to 3-hour 5 min and the energy consumption
was reduced by 29% (Lukaszewicz & Andersson, 2008a). This shows that using more advanced
rolling stock can increase speed and reduces energy consumption.
5. Conclusions

The demand for road transport continues to increase despite the fact that it mostly uses non-
renewable natural resources. The railway transport is a strong alternative to road transport.
Railway transport uses less energy, needs less land and uses less non-renewable natural resources.
The railway industry increase to use environmentally friendly materials in its vehicles and rail
installations. However, there is a considerable growth in the use of plastics that are not always
recyclable which shows that there is an urgent need to develop new technologies for recycling
different types of plastic.

There are many ways to achieve the targets for sustainable mobility. Such achievements can be
made possible through a greater technological improvement. The HSR and railway industry are
working to improve the efficiency, reduce the weight of vehicles, and develop new technologies
to reduce the power needs for the industry. Despite the increasing speed of modern trains,
energy consumption is reduced by 25-45% (Lukaszewicz & Andersson, 2008b). The assessment
of transport efficiency in the future must be related to the total energy life-cycle, from the
extraction of the minerals to their final return to earth as waste. For example, on average, the
Alstom train is 93.3% recyclable and 98.5% recoverable and there is a future need to increase
the recyclability closer to 100%.

International Congress on High-speed Rail: Technologies and Long Term Impacts - Ciudad Real (Spain) - 25th anniversary Madrid-Sevilla corridor 399