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N A T I O N A L C O O P E R A T I V E R A I L R E S E A R C H P R O G R A M NCRRP REPORT 3 Comparison of Passenger Rail Energy Consumption with Competing Modes TranSyS reSearch LTd. Glenburnie, ON w i th raiLTec University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign cPcS TranScom Ottawa, ON and LawSon economicS reSearch inc. Ottawa, ON Subscriber Categories Railroads ⢠Energy ⢠Planning and Forecasting TRANSPORTAT ION RESEARCH BOARD WASHINGTON, D.C. 2015 www.TRB.org Research sponsored by the Federal Railroad Administration
NATIONAL COOPERATIVE RAIL RESEARCH PROGRAM The National Cooperative Rail Research Program (NCRRP) conducts applied research on problems important to freight, intercity, and commuter rail operators. Research is necessary to solve common operating problems, adapt appropriate new technologies from other industries, and introduce innovations into the rail industry. NCRRP carries out applied research on problems that are shared by freight, intercity, and commuter rail operating agencies and are not being adequately addressed by existing federal research programs. NCRRP undertakes research and other technical activities in various rail subject areas, including design, construction, maintenance, operations, safety, security, finance and economics, policy, planning, human resources, and administration. NCRRP was authorized in October 2008 as part of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PL 100-432, Division B). The Program is sponsored by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and managed by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medi- cine, acting through its Transportation Research Board (TRB), with pro- gram oversight provided by an independent governing board (the NCRRP Oversight Committee [ROC]) including representatives of rail operating agencies. NCRRP carries out applied research on problems that address, among other matters, (1) intercity rail passenger and freight rail services, includ- ing existing rail passenger and freight technologies and speeds, incremen- tally enhanced rail systems and infrastructure, and new high-speed wheel- on-rail systems; (2) ways to expand the transportation of international trade traffic by rail, enhance the efficiency of intermodal interchange at ports and other intermodal terminals, and increase capacity and avail- ability of rail service for seasonal freight needs; (3) the interconnectedness of commuter rail, passenger rail, freight rail, and other rail networks; and (4) regional concerns regarding rail passenger and freight transportation, including meeting research needs common to designated high-speed cor- ridors, long-distance rail services, and regional intercity rail corridors, projects, and entities. NCRRP considers research designed to (1) identify the unique aspects and attributes of rail passenger and freight service; (2) develop more accu- rate models for evaluating the impact of rail passenger and freight service, including the effects on highway, airport, and airway congestion, environ- mental quality, energy consumption, and local and regional economies; (3) develop a better understanding of modal choice as it affects rail passenger and freight transportation, including development of better models to pre- dict utilization; (4) recommend priorities for technology demonstration and development; (5) meet additional priorities as determined by the advisory board; (6) explore improvements in management, financing, and institu- tional structures; (7) address rail capacity constraints that affect passenger and freight rail service through a wide variety of options, ranging from oper- ating improvements to dedicated new infrastructure, taking into account the impact of such options on operations; (8) improve maintenance, operations, customer service, or other aspects of intercity rail passenger and freight service; (9) recommend objective methods for determining intercity pas- senger rail routes and services, including the establishment of new routes, the elimination of existing routes, and the contraction or expansion of ser- vices or frequencies over such routes; (10) review the impact of equipment and operational safety standards on the further development of high-speed passenger rail operations connected to or integrated with non-high-speed freight or passenger rail operations; (11) recommend any legislative or regu- latory changes necessary to foster further development and implementation of high-speed passenger rail operations while ensuring the safety of such operations that are connected to or integrated with non-high-speed freight or passenger rail operations; (12) review rail crossing safety improvements, including improvements using new safety technology; and (13) review and develop technology designed to reduce train horn noise and its effect on communities, including broadband horn technology. The primary participants in NCRRP are (1) an independent govern- ing board, the ROC, appointed by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation with representation from freight, intercity, and commuter rail operating agencies, other stakeholders, and relevant industry organiza- tions such as the Association of American Railroads (AAR), the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), and the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) as vital links to the rail commu- nity; (2) TRB as program manager and secretariat for the governing board; and (3) the FRA as program sponsor. NCRRP benefits from the coopera- tion and participation of rail professionals, equipment and service suppli- ers, other rail users, and research organizations. Each of these participants has different interests and responsibilities, and each is an integral part of this cooperative research effort. Published reports of the NATIONAL COOPERATIVE RAIL RESEARCH PROGRAM are available from Transportation Research Board Business Office 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 and can be ordered through the Internet by going to http://www.national-academies.org and then searching for TRB Printed in the United States of America NCRRP REPORT 3 Project 02-01 ISSN 2376-9165 ISBN 978-0-309-37497-2 Library of Congress Control Number 2015958046 © 2015 National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. COPYRIGHT INFORMATION Authors herein are responsible for the authenticity of their materials and for obtaining written permissions from publishers or persons who own the copyright to any previously published or copyrighted material used herein. Cooperative Research Programs (CRP) grants permission to reproduce material in this publication for classroom and not-for-profit purposes. Permission is given with the understanding that none of the material will be used to imply TRB, AASHTO, FAA, FHWA, FMCSA, FRA, FTA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, PHMSA, or TDC endorsement of a particular product, method, or practice. It is expected that those reproducing the material in this document for educational and not-for-profit uses will give appropriate acknowledgment of the source of any reprinted or reproduced material. For other uses of the material, request permission from CRP. NOTICE The report was reviewed by the technical panel and accepted for publication according to procedures established and overseen by the Transportation Research Board and approved by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The opinions and conclusions expressed or implied in this report are those of the researchers who performed the research and are not necessarily those of the Transportation Research Board; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; or the program sponsors. The Transportation Research Board; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; and the sponsors of the National Cooperative Rail Research Program do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturersâ names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of the report.
The National Academy of Sciences was established in 1863 by an Act of Congress, signed by President Lincoln, as a private, non- governmental institution to advise the nation on issues related to science and technology. Members are elected by their peers for outstanding contributions to research. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president. The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to bring the practices of engineering to advising the nation. Members are elected by their peers for extraordinary contributions to engineering. Dr. C. D. Mote, Jr., is president. The National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) was established in 1970 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to advise the nation on medical and health issues. Members are elected by their peers for distinguished contributions to medicine and health. Dr. Victor J. Dzau is president. The three Academies work together as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation and conduct other activities to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions. The Academies also encourage education and research, recognize outstanding contributions to knowledge, and increase public understanding in matters of science, engineering, and medicine. Learn more about the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine at www.national-academies.org. The Transportation Research Board is one of seven major programs of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The mission of the Transportation Research Board is to increase the benefits that transportation contributes to society by providing leadership in transportation innovation and progress through research and information exchange, conducted within a setting that is objective, interdisciplinary, and multimodal. The Boardâs varied activities annually engage about 7,000 engineers, scientists, and other transportation researchers and practitioners from the public and private sectors and academia, all of whom contribute their expertise in the public interest. The program is supported by state transportation departments, federal agencies including the component administrations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other organizations and individuals interested in the development of transportation. Learn more about the Transportation Research Board at www.TRB.org.
C O O P E R A T I V E R E S E A R C H P R O G R A M S CRP STAFF FOR NCRRP REPORT 3 Christopher W. Jenks, Director, Cooperative Research Programs Lawrence D. Goldstein, Senior Program Officer Anthony P. Avery, Senior Program Assistant Eileen P. Delaney, Director of Publications Sharon Lamberton, Editor NCRRP PROJECT 02-01 PANEL Field of the Environment Projjal K. Dutta, New York State Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York, NY (Chair) Thomas C. Cornillie, Alameda, CA Eli Fernald, Turner Engineering Corporation, Brooklyn, NY Carlos D. Lopez, Arizona DOT, Phoenix, AZ Celia Ann H. Pfleckl, National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), Washington, DC Melissa Shurland, FRA Liaison Martin Schroeder, APTA Liaison Scott Babcock, TRB Liaison
NCRRP Report 3: Comparison of Passenger Rail Energy Consumption with Competing Modes provides a comprehensive model that allows the user to compare the energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of intercity and commuter passenger rail with those of competing travel modes along a designated travel corridor. This report summarizes the research used to develop the model and presents a set of case study applications. A Technical Document and User Guide for the Multi-Modal Passenger Simulation Model (MMPASSIM) and the spreadsheet tool for using and customizing the model are provided as a CD attached to this report. The Technical Document and User Guide also are available online as NCRRP Web Only Document 1. Under NCRRP Project 02-01, the TranSys Research Ltd. team identified effective strate- gies for addressing the complex issues involved in comparing energy use and GHG emissions by mode. Lower fuel and energy consumption, as well as lower GHG emissions per passenger trip, are often cited as benefits of passenger rail in comparison with other travel modes. In the past, however, these benefits have not been well documented, nor have effective procedures for measuring them been delineated. Given these limitations, this study was designed to (1) provide a method for comparative measurement of energy consumption and GHG emis- sions for a given travel corridor and (2) create a model that could be customized by users based on door-to-door travel characteristics. Building on their analysis, the research team developed MMPASSIM, a comprehensive and flexible model to simulate intercity travel modes (air, automobile, motor coach and rail) or commuter travel modes (automobile, commuter bus, and commuter rail) in detail. Access/egress legs of either intercity or commuter trips are incorporated into the model using typical average performance values, or user-provided alternative values, for energy and GHG emissions intensities of typical access/egress modes (i.e., subway, transit bus, taxi, personal-automobile, commuter rail and non-motorized cycling/walking). The flexible nature of the model allows users to customize individual trips for detailed comparisons based on specific trip characteristics. For example, MMPASSIM users can spec- ify combinations of access/egress modes and trip lengths. If the model will be used to assess average travel behavior rather than an individual trip, default values are provided based on proportional distribution by mode as a function of distances used for access. MMPASSIM also supports user assessments of the energy and GHG emissions intensities of various tech- nological and operations alternatives for the rail mode. The analytical model can be applied by rail industry practitioners as well as government and other operating authorities to evaluate alternative regional transportation system development strategies to best meet future demands for passenger rail transportation. F O R E W O R D By Lawrence D. Goldstein Staff Officer Transportation Research Board
1 Summary 10 Chapter 1 Introduction 10 1.1 Objectives 10 1.2 Background 12 1.3 Scope 13 1.4 Structure 14 Chapter 2 Passenger Rail Energy Efficiency Research and Benchmarks 14 2.1 Passenger Transportation Energy Efficiency 18 2.2 Previous Studies of Passenger Rail Energy Efficiency 32 2.3 Domestic and International Efficiency Benchmarks 42 Chapter 3 Simulation Methodology: The Multi-Modal Passenger Simulation Tool 42 3.1 Rail Module and Required Inputs 46 3.2 Highway Module and Required Inputs 48 3.3 Air Module and Required Inputs 48 3.4 MMPASSIM Outputs 52 3.5 Rail Model Validation 53 Chapter 4 Single-Train Simulation of Passenger Rail Energy Efficiency 53 4.1 Passenger Rail Systems and Services Evaluated 57 4.2 Baseline Single-Train Simulation Results 65 Chapter 5 Technologies to Improve Passenger Rail Energy Efficiency 66 5.1 Operational Strategies 69 5.2 Railcar Design and Utilization 74 5.3 Motive Power and Fuels 79 5.4 Alternative Energy Sources 82 5.5 Conclusions 84 Chapter 6 Barriers to Passenger Rail Energy Efficiency Innovation 84 6.1 Methodology and Limitations 85 6.2 Barriers to Improving Passenger Rail Energy Efficiency 91 6.3 Approaches to Address Barriers 94 6.4 Summary of Findings C O N T E N T S
96 Chapter 7 Modal Comparisons of Energy Consumption and GHG Emissions 96 7.1 Methodology 99 7.2 Evaluated Passenger Rail Services 100 7.3 Commuter Rail Modal Comparisons 109 7.4 Regional Intercity Rail Modal Comparisons 120 7.5 Long-Distance Intercity Case Study: Chicago, ILâLos Angeles, CA 124 7.6 HSR Case Study: Fresno, CAâLos Angeles, CA 128 7.7 Summary Comparisons 130 7.8 Sensitivity Analysis 134 7.9 Conclusions 137 Chapter 8 Conclusions 139 References 144 Appendix A Passenger Rolling Stock Characteristics 149 Appendix B Rail Access/Egress Mode Characteristics 155 Appendix C Automobile Fuel Maps 157 Appendix D Highway Grade Profiles and Congestion Distributions 159 Appendix E Single-Train Simulation and Rail Technology Evaluation Input Data 176 Appendix F Technologies to Improve Energy Efficiency 178 Appendix G Modal Comparison Simulation Input Data Note: Photographs, figures, and tables in this report may have been converted from color to grayscale for printing. The electronic version of the report (posted on the web at www.trb.org) retains the color versions.
