Analysis of GHG Emissions for city passenger trains: is electricity an obvious option for Montreal commuter trains?

Alternative technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells and electric-powered trains have emerged to reduce the GHG emissions of traditional commuter rail systems powered by diesel. Even larger reductions can be obtained with energy production from renewable resources. This paper uses the commuter rail system in Montreal, Quebec, as a case study for implementing alternative technologies, namely, complete electrification of the network (only one of the existing five lines is electrified) and hydrogen fuel cell-powered trains. It is important to note that the main source of electricity generation in Quebec is hydropower which is offered at a relatively low cost. Several criteria were considered to determine the most suitable alternative including GHG emissions from operation and fuel production, operation and capital costs, and technological and commercial viability. Electrification of the commuter rail system would decrease annual emissions by 98% which is more than 27,000 tons. The GHG reductions for hydrogen trains are lower than electric trains but still substantial. Results also indicate that increasing ridership to full occupancy of the current commuter rail network would not lower emissions per passenger-kilometer to the emissions level of electric-powered trains. The operation costs favor the electrification scenario; however, the high costs of electrical infrastructure make hydrogen trains more competitive since additional infrastructure are unnecessary. The cost of electrification is estimated as $1,240.1 million which is within the $1,2-1,5 billion recently proposed by the Quebec government, compared with $414.8 million for hydrogen trains. Hydrogen trains remain a new and unproven technology; uncertainties associated with it should be settled before full implementation.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AR020 Passenger Rail Equipment and Systems Integration
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Chan, Sabrina
  • Miranda-Moreno, Luis F
  • Patterson, Zachary
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 91st Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2012-1-22 to 2012-1-26
• Date: 2012

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 20p
• Monograph Title: TRB 91st Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers DVD

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternate fuels; Case studies; Economic factors; Electric locomotives; Electric railroads; Environmental impacts; Greenhouse gases; Hydrogen fuels; Life cycle analysis; Passenger trains; Railroad commuter service
• Geographic Terms: Montreal (Canada)
• Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment; I15: Environment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01372656
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 12-2169
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jun 15 2012 4:03PM