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CASE STUDY
PORTUGAL

CARBON EMISSIONS (KG CO 2 /KM) INVESTING IN
FULL TRAIN VS. CORRESPONDING
TRUCKS TO CARRY 500 TONS RAIL SERVICES
OF CARGO
Train with diesel locomotive 13.30
Train with electric locomotive 5.30 In January 2016, following a privatisation process in Indeed, trucks cause substantial congestion at the
(equivalent of 12.4 KWh/km) Portugal, MSC acquired a 95% stakes of the national marine and inland terminals’ gates. It can be reduced
rail operator company, which has then been renamed using rail transport.
Trucks 20.37
as MEDWAY. The total investment amounted to EUR As an illustration, to travel the exact same distance
77.4 million and owns. of one kilometre, a train produces 3.5 times less CO
2
MEDWAY’s services are mainly used by MSC, thereby emissions than the corresponding appropriate number
preferring the use of the railway network rather than of trucks. In addition to the important reduction in CO
2
the trucking network. The railway network provides emissions, for the same distance, a train carries on
great advantages in terms of service offering, cost- average 500 tons of goods. In comparison, one truck
effectiveness, environmental impact as well as carries only 24 tons of goods. It means that MSC would
productivity. need approximately 20 trucks to carry the same quantity
of goods for the exact same distance travelled by
train. Another advantage using trains is to relieve the
roads from important traffic congestion, which also
contributes to CO emissions. The costs associated
2
with road congestion are projected to increase by
about 50% by 2050 to nearly EUR 200 billion annually.
Trains represent a more environmentally-friendly and
more efficient way of transporting goods compared to
trucks. MEDWAY’s fleet is composed of both diesel and
electric locomotives, in equal parts. Electric locomo-
tives are the preferred option and, whenever possible,
we aim to invest and renew the existing fleet with
electric locomotives. MEDWAY is certified ISO 14001.
In conclusion, preferring rail as a means of transpor-
MEDWAY tation also dramatically reduces fatalities on the road.
Workers over 500
For instance, as per the European Court of Auditors’
Total locomotives 59 report on Rail freight transport in the EU: still not on
Electric locomotives 29 the right track (2016), there were 28,126 road fatalities
in the EU, in 2012. In comparison, there were only 36
Wagons 2,917
fatalities associated with rail transport.

56 MSC’S COMMITMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT MSC SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2016 57