Environmental balance of the High Speed Rail line in the Northern Spain: a Life Cycle Analysis approach

Abstract

Spain has the world’s second longest network of High-Speed Rail (HSR) lines built and in service. HSR is usually presented as a sustainable means of transport with huge potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption. The majority of studies carried out on this mode of transport have focused on analysing and estimating these savings in terms of network operation, but sometimes ignore the burdens associated with the construction of the infrastructure.
This article analyzes the environmental loads of construction and operation of the Northern Corridor and verifies if its construction is justified in terms of reducing environmental impacts and reducing energy consumption. To do so, it integrates into the study the construction and maintenance phase of the line, together with the operation phase. More specifically, the study is based on the life cycle analysis (LCA) methodology, which includes the calculation of the loads associated with the construction of the infrastructure and distributes them throughout its useful life.
This study concludes that this high-speed North line will not compensate, during its useful life, the environmental impacts generated in its construction and maintenance phase, nor will it contribute to net energy savings