17/02/2023

Overview

In recent years, the environmental impact of the Australian rail industry has become of much greater concern as our understanding of the effects that carbon footprints and emissions have on rail transport and infrastructure systems have been further studied.

While rail transport offers a far more environmentally-friendly alternative to the mass emissions of other forms of automotive transport, and great strides have been made in the reduction of harmful emissions within the rail industry itself, there are still significant places in which the rail industry can utilise new strategies and technologies which have not yet been significantly studied, and that can further reduce reliance on carbon-emitting fossil fuels.

One of these methods involves utilising hi-rail cranes for works that are the source of some of the largest amount of emissions, which includes construction and rail surfacing projects which rely on traditional transport and disposal systems that use a significant amount of carbon emissions. By utilising hi-rail cranes for these projects, the rail industry can help reduce their reliance on traditional fossil fuel-powered methods while also greatly improving efficiency in many areas of railway operations – the benefits of which will be covered in this paper.

What you will learn from this publication:

This document aims to address two key topics:

• The current state of national rail emissions, and why more environmentally-friendly strategies for rail transport, surfacing, and construction works are imperative
• ​Key ways in which utilising hi-rail cranes is a useful alternative to traditional systems

Emissions in the Australian rail industry

The current state of carbon emissions from the Australian rail industry has been of significant concern as understanding of the environmental effects of national infrastructure systems has been increasingly studied. As a result of this, the Australian government has in recent years made a strong effort to both analyse and mitigate the current state of harmful carbon emissions within the national rail industry as well as other transport networks.

While rail transportation is still considered a more environmentally-friendly option than road transportation, the rail industry still contributes to a significant amount of carbon emissions. This is in part due in part to the country’s heavy reliance on outdated and fossil fuel-reliant equipment to power trains and rail construction equipment.

This issue first became a concern when a study conducted by the Sustainable Infrastructure Centre for Rail Technology (SICRT) in 2014 found that current chemical and mechanical mechanisms used for rail maintenance produce a significant amount of CO2 and other harmful emissions, and significant strategies were needed to address this growing environmental concern.

In addition, according to an MIT study of the current state of carbon emissions in rail resurfacing work, the Australian rail industry is a significant contributor to carbon emissions, especially when it comes to the use of rail resurfacing machines, which were found to emit a high level of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other pollutants during their operation. The study suggests that the use of these machines is responsible for a significant portion of the rail industry's overall emissions.

This MIT study recommends the use of alternative technologies, such as electric or hybrid machines which have lower overall emissions, as well as implementing measures such as better maintenance systems and a more efficient use of resurfacing machines to reduce emissions. Many of these solutions – along with the increasing adoption of trains powered by electric, hybrid, or renewable energy resources – have become increasingly popular within national rail programs as the industry becomes more aware of the long-term effect of harmful carbon emissions.

The Australian government is also investing in rail infrastructure and technology upgrades, such as advanced signalling systems and high-performance rail corridors, to improve the efficiency and reduce the emissions of the rail network, and, additionally, many rail operators are implementing energy-efficient practices and enacting the use of low-carbon fuels and energy-efficient technologies. However, there are still many places within the rail industry where repair and construction strategies are more environmentally-conscious and will be a benefit to the reduction of carbon emissions as a whole.

Using hi-rail cranes for emergency response and disaster recovery

As specialised cranes mounted on a railway vehicle that can travel on both rail and road, hi-rail cranes are traditionally used for a variety of rail work tasks such as track maintenance and construction, but their versatility and mobile utilities also offer a number of unique benefits when applied to the emergency response and disaster recovery operations as outlined above.

Hi-rail cranes offer a range of immediate short-term benefits to emergency response, which can also benefit by being adopted as part of major longer-term disaster plans that are being adopted by rail and infrastructure companies. Some of the key ways in which hi-rail cranes benefit disaster response include:

Versatility and mobility
Since hi-rail cranes are designed to be able to travel on both rail and road, thus allowing them to access areas that may be difficult or impossible for other types of road- or rail-based equipment to reach, this makes them particularly useful for emergency response and disaster recovery operations where quick access to affected areas is essential. For example, after a natural disaster such as a flood or a landslide, rail lines may be blocked by debris. Hi-rail cranes can quickly and safely remove this debris, allowing trains to resume service as soon as possible. Additionally, hi-rail cranes can also be used to repair and reconstruct damaged rail infrastructure, such as tracks, bridges, roads, and crossings.

Efficiency, speed, and cost-effectiveness
Another major benefit of utilising hi-rail cranes for emergency operations is the efficiency and speed that comes from their design. Hi-rail cranes are able to lift and place heavy loads, such as rail tracks and sleepers, allowing for the quick repair of damaged tracks and other infrastructure. This can significantly reduce the time required for repairs and minimize the disruption to rail service when using traditional repair equipment. In addition, hi-rail cranes are able to travel to and from emergency response and disaster recovery sites quickly, allowing them to respond to emergencies in a timely manner, which is particularly important where environmental disruptions to rail service can have significant economic consequences.

Safety
Hi-rail cranes also offer significant safety benefits for emergency operations, ensuring the safety of operators and other nearby personnel. They are designed with safety features such as stabilizers which prevent the crane from tipping over, and anti-two block systems which prevent the crane from lifting a load that is too heavy. Additionally, hi-rail cranes are operated by trained and experienced operators, who have the knowledge and skills to safely and effectively use the equipment for the often complicated and precise operations that are a part of emergency operations.

The largest sources of carbon emissions in rail works

Traditionally, the largest source of carbon emissions has been the powering and propulsion of trains themselves, with a historical reliance on diesel and fossil fuel-reliant engines. However, with the newest adoption of clean technologies for a wide selection of national urban train transport systems, this has been mitigated to a new extent. However, there are still a significant number of remaining carbon-emitting rail technologies, which include:

Equipment transportation

 The transportation of rail works equipment can generate a significant amount of emissions, especially when the freight is transported in diesel-powered trains over large distances.

Construction and maintenance of rail infrastructure

The construction and maintenance of rail infrastructure, such as tracks and stations, can also contribute to emissions through the use of heavy machinery and the disposal of waste materials.

Rolling stock maintenance

The use of machinery and disposal of waste materials can lead to emissions during the maintenance of rolling stocks such as trains and railcars.

Key points in the utilisation of hi-rail cranes for lessened rail emissions

With these points to consider, utilising hi-rail cranes is an effective way to reduce remaining carbon emissions in the rail industry, especially in rail construction works where emissions are still a common concern.

As specialised vehicles that are equipped to allow them to move seamlessly between road and rail environments, hi-rail cranes are already used for a variety of tasks, including maintenance and repair work on rail infrastructure, loading and unloading freight, and emergency response along tracks. However, by further utilising hi-rail cranes for the issues outlined above, rail companies can continue to reduce emissions by eliminating the reliance on traditional systems that are harmful to the environment.

As hi-rail cranes are powered by electricity and do not require the use of any external fuel sources, they can help reduce reliance on traditional diesel-powered systems which commonly produce large amounts of carbon dioxide and other pollutants during operation. This is especially beneficial for rail construction and surfacing works, where large amounts of fuel are used to power machines that can produce a significant amount of emissions. Several of the other benefits to using hi-rail cranes for rail works that mitigate the existing environmental concerns as outlined above include:

Greater mobility for equipment transport

Hi-rail cranes help to eliminate the need for rolling stock maintenance by allowing engineers to reach out-of-service areas to repair and maintain various equipment, such as railcars and freight containers, without having to move them from their operating positions. This eliminates the need for large diesel engines that are traditionally needed to power the equipment transport, and therefore reduces the emissions of these existing systems. Furthermore, hi-rail cranes can also be used for the construction of new rail infrastructure, such as tracks and stations, mitigating the need for large diesel-powered machinery that causes significant emissions during construction works. This working example from the Sydney Metro shows just how versatile hi-rail machines can be for contractors working on rail infrastructure and the potential that they have to assist with improved productivity.

On-site equipment assembly and dismantling

Hi-rail cranes are designed to be highly mobile and versatile, allowing them to move easily between road and rail environments. This means that they can be used to assemble and dismantle equipment on job sites, rather than having to transport the equipment to a separate location for assembly and dismantling. This can reduce emissions associated with transportation, as well as the need for heavy machinery to be transported to remote locations. In addition, by using hi-rail cranes for assembly and dismantling, the need for multiple vehicles and equipment can be minimized, thus further reducing emissions.

Environmentally-friendly waste disposal
Hi-rail cranes are designed to effectively transport heavy loads over large distances while providing ease of use and minimal damage to the environment, which means that they can quickly and safely move large amounts of material away from the site, be it demolition debris, rocks, or other materials that require removal. The lack of system combustion means that air pollution is reduced significantly compared to traditional methods, making hi-rail equipment both economical and eco-friendly when compared to existing waste disposal options. Furthermore, with hi-rail technology, these cranes can easily traverse railway lines and highways for greater efficiency, so the waste disposal process doesn't have to rely on road transport.

Summary

When it comes to preventing the environmental impact of rail systems, there is no doubt that fast action is imperative. While the Australian rail industry has already made a number of significant advances in replacing strong carbon-emitting technologies, there are still a number of ways that additional steps can be taken to ensure that important sectors of rail transport, surfacing, and construction projects are not overlooked.

By adopting the use of hi-rail cranes, the environmental impact of common rail industry works such as equipment transportation, rail infrastructure construction, and rolling stock maintenance can be significantly reduced by avoiding the use of existing fuel-emitting technologies that have a strong environmental footprint. By providing hi-rail cranes to rail industries for these works, Hi-Range Crane Forks has assisted in lessening the national environmental impact that still comes from rail infrastructure and systems.