Toward a Better Methodology for Assessing CO2 Emissions for Intermodal and Truck-only Freight Systems: A European Case Study

ABSTRACT This study aims to examine whether the intermodal freight system emits less CO2 than its road-based counterpart. Three types of freight systems are considered: a truck-only system, a rail-based intermodal freight system, and a vessel-based intermodal system. Furthermore, nine scenarios are designed in terms of four different power sources for an electrified rail-based intermodal system and three different sized ships for a vessel-based intermodal system. The results show intermodal systems generally emit less CO2 than the truck-only system. However, intermodal systems can emit more CO2 than truck-only systems under certain extreme conditions of electricity production, vessel size and detour factors.

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