Balancing of greenhouse gases for new construction and expansion projects of rail infrastructure

The project aims at developing a robust methodological approach for greenhouse gas balancing (GHG balancing) of rail infrastructure projects in an early planning stage in order to adequately consider the increasing political focus on life cycle-based assessments and legal requirements, particularly in the context of climate protection. To this end in a first step the current legal framework and the existing methodological basis for GHG balancing are researched and presented. In addition, the available data sources regarding structures and requirements of rail infrastructure are shown. Also, the interface to transport modelling is analysed. On this basis, a concrete approach for GHG balancing of rail infrastructure projects at an early planning stage is developed. It includes the three elements: infrastructure, effects related to transport and effects related to land use change and takes account of the legal framework concerning the consideration of climate protection during the planning phase which is elaborated in detail as part of the project.