Locomotives vs. Heavy Road Freight Vehicle Combinations: A Case Study of the Energy Intensity and WTW CO2e Emissions of Freight Transport

This study quantifies, based on real-world operational measurements, the energy intensity and greenhouse gas emissions of selected vehicle types in rail and road freight transport on the Brno–Břeclav corridor. Measurements were conducted on several generations of electric locomotives, one upgraded diesel locomotive, and two heavy road freight vehicle combinations. Energy flows were converted to a common basis, and both energy intensity and greenhouse gas emissions were assessed on a well-to-wheel (WTW) basis. Unlike many previous studies, this research focuses on a comparison of specific, currently operated vehicles rather than on an aggregated comparison of transport modes. The results reveal substantial differences not only between rail and road freight transport, but also within rail traction itself, where pronounced differences were identified among individual locomotive generations. At the same time, they confirm that, even when diesel traction is used, rail freight transport remains more energy-efficient and exhibits lower greenhouse gas emissions than heavy road freight vehicle combinations, both per gross and per net tonne-kilometre. Overall, the findings indicate that the environmental performance of freight transport is determined not only by the transport mode itself, but also by vehicle technology, traction type, and the structure of transport performance.