Public Transport

Public transport alternatives generally provide lower emissions per passenger kilometre. Rail provides an energy efficient service both for regional and national travel (Figure 3). High-speed rail links can offer a fast and efficient alternative to intercity road and air travel. The French railway company, SNCF claim significant reductions in traffic on some domestic air routes following introduction of the TGV. In Europe, the passenger share for rail fell from 10% to 6% between 1970 and 1998, with 600 km of track closed every year in Europe (although actual passenger kilometres rose by a third) (EC, 2001). The new EC white paper aims to reverse this trend by 2020. It also aims to integrate rail, sea and air transport to provide alternative transport solutions, in particular for freight. Reducing congestion on the roads through switching freight transport from road to rail, would also reduce emissions (Figure 4). It is a noteworthy fact that while 40% of freight transport in the US is carried by train, the figure in Europe is only 8% (EC, 2001).

Thalys PBKA trainset 4302 (Belgian owned) at Paris Gare du Nord, with an assortment of Réseau and PBA trainsets. Photo by Stefano Bertolotti

Buses provide an alternative means of transport, particularly in developing countries. In Latin America, many cities such as Curitiba, Porto Alegre, São Paulo, Bogota, Lima, Quito, Santiago, Mexico City, and Leon have prioritised bus services but elsewhere, as in Asia such policies is much less widespread or effective (World Bank, 2001). Buses in London produce around 7 gCO2 per passenger kilometre (London Transport, 1998) which is less than an average petrol car with 2 passengers (Figure 4).

In addition to public transport, in many countries there are "paratransit" systems which operate outside official schemes for instance jeepneys in Manila Jeepneys -

Jeepneys in downtown Manila

motorbikes in Cotonou or motorized rickshaws in South and East Asia. This is a highly competitive market and provides an essential means of getting about but the vehicles are often old, highly polluting and dangerous. Incorporating this unofficial and often semi-legal sector into overall transport policy is difficult but important as it provides a cheap means of transport for urban populations (World Bank, 2001).

Mass Rapid Transit systems are being developed to provide an alternative means of urban transport. Project under development include the Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system, e.g Taxi2000 which aims to provide an alternative to the car by providing three-passenger units running on narrow guideways which operate on demand. AEROMOVEL is an innovative urban rapid trans systems which uses air propulsion for the movement of lightweight, high volume vehicles. A pilot scheme was set up in Porto Alegre, Brazil in ; Cardiff Bay - The ULTra (Urban Light Transport) scheme

Figure 4: Comparison of emissions per passenger kilometre for different modes of transport
Source: UNEP, 2000. GHG Protocol
*Figures for emissions from cars assume single occupancy
**Figures for train emissions from SNCF Environmental Report 1998; VROM Government Policy of the Netherlands on Air Pollution and Aviation
***figure for bus emissions are from London Transport Market Report 1998 and apply to public transport in London

Figure 5: Comparison of emissons per tonne kilometre for freight transported by different modes
Source: UNEP, 2000. GHG Protocol
* Figures for road freight from ECCM assuming a mediumsized lorry with 3 tonne loading