The railway sector gets increasing amount of interest as a result of climate change becoming a priority in Europe. Railway transportation is responsible for only half percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, so traveling and transportation by train can play an important role in fighting climate change.

In connection with the European Year of Railways, MÁV Group, the Hungarian state owned railway company has planned a campaign to draw the public’s attention on the possibilities of reducing CO2 emissions by using trains.

On average, the possible reduction in CO2 emissions per kilometer exceeds 70% if passenger chooses the railway services instead of using cars in Hungary. According to calculations by experts from denkstatt Hungary , based on the average data of the last 5 years, an average railway kilometer comes with a CO2 emission of 45 g per passenger km, while the same distance is 176 g CO2 per passenger km. This means avoiding an emission of 131 g of greenhouse gases per kilometer. (The calculation of rail transport emissions was calculated on the basis of the national energy consumption and passenger traffic data of MÁV-START Zrt. For 2016-2020, taking into account the methodology of the International Union of Railways (UIC). for the same period.)

Awareness actions

In connection with the European Year of Railways, the MÁV Group is raising public awareness on environment protection through several initiatives. From 17 February 2021, all electronic train tickets, season tickets and season tickets issued by MÁV-START, where this does not cause additional paper use, shall indicate the CO2 emission savings calculated as above for the distance covered. This way, every passenger can see how much they are doing for the environment by choosing the railway instead of the car.

From 17 February 2021, a special green-stickered train will also draw attention to the environmental role of the railway (see on the cover picture).

Source and full announcement: mavcsoport.hu

Cover picture: mavcsoport.hu