Utilising life cycle cost modelling to decarbonise railway infrastructure management

Although railways rank among the most sustainable modes of transportation, the processes involved in building and maintaining the infrastructure still generate significant carbon emissions. From the materials used in construction to the CO2 emitted by heavy machinery during renewal and maintenance, reducing the carbon footprint of these activities is essential in meeting emission targets and shaping a greener, more resilient railway system.

Successful decarbonisation cannot be achieved if sustainability is treated as a second-class citizen. Decarbonisation must be actively pursued and treated with the same priority as capital and operational expenditure, fully integrating it into asset management cost and planning models. By extending cost-benefit analyses and life cycle assessments to include emission data, we can ensure that sustainability is integrated into decision-making. Incorporating emissions from the ground up in portfolio simulation and forecasting models enables consistent, data-driven decision support.

It is imperative to consider greenhouse gas emissions not only during an asset’s operational phase, but also throughout its construction and disposal stages. Using more sustainable materials, incorporating circularity into the life cycle of individual components, and optimising energy-intensive processes are key strategies to minimise the carbon footprint of an asset’s renewal. Accurate modelling of emissions at all stages of the life cycle is essential to estimate the true carbon life cycle cost (CLCC) of an asset. In contrast to traditional life cycle assessments, CLCC modelling becomes a native part of asset management models.

Understanding the emission composition of an asset portfolio through the model’s drill-down capabilities is crucial for identifying major emission drivers and levers, as well as for meeting increasingly stringent reporting requirements. Activity-based, bottom-up emission modelling enables the development of a granular model that provides the necessary detail for assessing the progress towards sustainability targets.

The viability of decarbonisation strategies depends on the available financial resources. Simulating emissions under different funding schemes and decarbonisation strategies allows infrastructure managers and their stakeholders to compare a diverse range of scenarios and understand the impact of decisions on both cost and the environment. This evidence-based approach helps secure necessary funding, advocates for decarbonisation investments, and supports sustainable asset management.

What sets the CLCC model apart is its ability to integrate environmental considerations into the core of railway infrastructure asset management models. By providing insights into the emissions generated by various activities, the CLCC model aligns renewal and maintenance planning with sustainability goals, paving the way for greener and future-proof railway systems. This enables top level managers to make data-driven decisions.