<p>This essay analyses the possible impact that COVID-19 will have on the transport sector. It also gives the prospect on how the sector should approach the “new normal” which will follow the current health emergency and be resilient in case of future outbreaks. </p><p>The paper identifies several impacts that are already taking place in different instances such as the global consumers’ behaviour. Due to the current lockdown situation interaction between producers and consumers has changed radically, and the supply chain had to adapt to cover necessities of citizens. The effects of the outbreak have been profound in consumption, however a growth in eCommerce and digital services have gained in importance and it is supposed to continue growing. </p><p>The pandemic also had effects on the transport sector, to the point that a new paradigm of mobility will be necessary to meet environmental demands. The crisis halted passengers’ mobility and limited air and sea freight capacity significantly. On the contrary, long-distance trans-Eurasian rail lines have been untouched. </p><p>The pandemic had positive impacts on the environment as well. However, the trend of low production of GHG emission is expected to reverse course once containment measures are lifted. Transport will have an important role in the predicted rebound effect of GHG emissions; thus, the development of green new mobility is essential.</p><p>Analysing the forecast of the transport sector, railways will have distinct advantages over other transport modes both during the acute phase of the pandemic and the “new normal”. On the other hand, underuse of the rail sector can lead to a collapse of the urban transport system. Lastly, this paper introduces the concept of 5 “R” as the necessary steps the rail sector needs to undertake to play a significant role in tomorrow’s mobility. These steps are Resilience, Return, Reimagination, Reform, and Research. In particular, the paper highlights research needs which are considered essential in enhancing rail competitiveness. </p><p>In conclusion, this paper reminds that this historic event must be considered as an opportunity to truly establish rail as the backbone of the European sustainable mobility.</p>

This paper analyzes the possible impacts of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the transport sector and specifically on the railways. It aims at investigating how the sector should approach the “new normal.” The pandemic had repercussions not only on the interaction between producers and consumers but also on the environment, therefore changing the supply chain. The health crisis halted passengers’ mobility and limited air and sea freight capacity significantly, consequently producing a positive impact on the environment. However, the low production trend of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission is expected to reverse once containment measures are lifted. Transport will have an important role in the predicted rebound effect of GHG emissions; thus, the development of green new mobility is essential. In light of these aspects, this study argues that a new resilient paradigm of mobility must be developed for future health emergencies which meets environmental demands. This paper introduces the five “R”s—resilience, return, reimagination, reform, and research—as the necessary steps the rail sector will need to address to better continue to provide services throughout future crises. In particular, the paper highlights new avenues for research which can play an essential role in enhancing rail competitiveness and resilience within future crises. In conclusion, this paper reminds that the pandemic might be considered as a testing ground for upcoming crises and an opportunity to introduce the discussion about a new green and public paradigm of mobility.

<p>This essay analyses the possible impact that COVID-19 will have on the transport sector. It also gives the prospect on how the sector should approach the “new normal” which will follow the current health emergency and be resilient in case of future outbreaks. </p><p>The paper identifies several impacts that are already taking place in different instances such as the global consumers’ behaviour. Due to the current lockdown situation interaction between producers and consumers has changed radically, and the supply chain had to adapt to cover necessities of citizens. The effects of the outbreak have been profound in consumption, however a growth in eCommerce and digital services have gained in importance and it is supposed to continue growing. </p><p>The pandemic also had effects on the transport sector, to the point that a new paradigm of mobility will be necessary to meet environmental demands. The crisis halted passengers’ mobility and limited air and sea freight capacity significantly. On the contrary, long-distance trans-Eurasian rail lines have been untouched. </p><p>The pandemic had positive impacts on the environment as well. However, the trend of low production of GHG emission is expected to reverse course once containment measures are lifted. Transport will have an important role in the predicted rebound effect of GHG emissions; thus, the development of green new mobility is essential.</p><p>Analysing the forecast of the transport sector, railways will have distinct advantages over other transport modes both during the acute phase of the pandemic and the “new normal”. On the other hand, underuse of the rail sector can lead to a collapse of the urban transport system. Lastly, this paper introduces the concept of 5 “R” as the necessary steps the rail sector needs to undertake to play a significant role in tomorrow’s mobility. These steps are Resilience, Return, Reimagination, Reform, and Research. In particular, the paper highlights research needs which are considered essential in enhancing rail competitiveness. </p><p>In conclusion, this paper reminds that this historic event must be considered as an opportunity to truly establish rail as the backbone of the European sustainable mobility.</p>

The purpose of this study is to evaluate to which extent the rail transport mode can improve the environmental situation in Europe if it were to be at the centre of sustainability-driven policies. In particular, it aims at estimating a relative picture of the CO 2 emissions generated by short-distance air passenger transportation in Europe, which could have been transferred to high-speed rail and produce less CO 2 . This study follows a three-step methodology. Firstly, it calculates the number of passengers travelling on each route between cities and estimates the total CO 2 emissions. Subsequently, it leverages the current literature on CO 2 consumption from railway passenger transport. Lastly, it estimates the possible scenarios in terms of CO 2 emissions that would have followed adequate sustainability-driven policies. The study found that short-range aviation in EU28 produced 9.2 million tons of CO 2 in 2017, which represents about 5% of total aviation emission, about 1% of total transport emission and about 0.2% of total CO 2 emission. Furthermore, the CO 2 production on the 175 routes analysed increased until 2019, while precise policies could have allowed saving 582 MT CO 2 . The effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on the European transport sector increases the relevance of this study. To avert the "return to normality" vis a vis Greenhouse Gases (hereinafter "GHG") emissions from the sector, it will be necessary to introduce structural changes. As Austrian Airlines or KLM bailouts show, environmental concerns might finally influence the decision-making process on public transportation. In the context of a green recovery, this study not only lays the foundation for further contributions addressing the CO 2 production from EU-wide sectors but also underlines the role the railway can play in environmentally friendly transportation. MotivationTraditionally, economic development was thought to be achieved at the expense of the environment and, as a result, the objective of economic growth frequently

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