Environmental benefit in rail transport? Synthesis of studies on environmental effects of transport of goods by railway; Milieuwinst op het spoor? Synthese van onderzoeken naar milieu-effecten van het goederenvervoer per spoor

The discussion on the environmental effects of transport of goods by railway is a complex one. There appear to be large differences in the estimation of the market potential on the one hand and the many factors which have an impact on the environmental performance of transport of goods by railway on the other hand. Also, the environmental performance of transport of goods by railway can only be assessed in comparison with other means of transportation: by road and inland waterways. In order to be able to make better decisions on investments for large infrastructural projects the Dutch parliament requested for a study on the title subject.Three institutes in the Netherlands (CE, RIVM and TNO Inro) carried out a synthesis of existing literature and data on the subject.