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Transport is recognized as a major energy consumer and environment pollutant. Recently scholars have paid considerable attention to the evaluation of transport energy and environmental efficiency (EEE). In this paper, the non-radial Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model was employed to evaluate EEE on a macro level-i.e., of European road, rail and air sectors. The evaluation was conducted under the joint production framework, which considers energy and non-energy inputs, and desirable and undesirable outputs for the last ten years period. To rank decision-making units and check the aptness of this non-radial DEA model in transport EEE evaluation, the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method has been proposed. An empirical study has been conducted for as many European countries as possible, depending on availability of data. Based on the non-radial DEA model, it could be said that the level of EEE is improving for the road sector, while many evaluated countries have low EEE for the rail transport sector. Additionally, results have indicated that the TOPSIS method is more suitable than the non-radial DEA model in transport EEE evaluation and for identification of best practices.Energies 2019, 12, 2907 The Aim and the Scope of the PaperThe aim of this paper is twofold. The first is to evaluate and analyze the changes of EEE of European road, air, and rail transport sectors, where the methodology for evaluating EEE is based on a non-radial DEA model proposed by Wu et al. [6] for 2006-2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014-2016, using the available data for the European countries which represent DMUs. The second aim of the paper is the introduction of the TOPSIS method in the evaluation of EEE, where the TOPSIS method is used for the ranking of DMUs. The evaluation of transport EEE has been done under the joint production framework, using non-energy inputs (labor and transport assets) and energy input (energy consumption) to produce desirable outputs (volume of passenger and freight transport) and undesirable output (GHG emissions). Aside from other widely used non-radial DEA models such as Slack-based models, Russell measure models, and Directional distance function, in this paper, the non-radial DEA model has been chosen due to its ability to use different non-proportional adjustments, with decision maker specified weights assigned to each efficiency score, and because of its ability to proportionally decrease the amounts of energy inputs and undesirable outputs simultaneously as much as possible [5,6].The main contributions of this study are: (i) a newly systematic literature review in the field of transport EEE evaluation, (ii) a new definition of transport EEE, (iii) the evaluation of EEE with an extended set of used inputs, (iv) the evaluation of EEE of road, air, and rail transport sectors of European countries and their changing tendencies in terms of the EEE, (v) use of non-radial DEA and introduction of the TOPSIS method through DMUs ranking in the evaluation of transport EEE, ...

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Purpose In the process of nowadays efficiency evaluation of any mode of transportation, sustainability results are the most important factor. In regard to railway sustainability, Train Control Information Systems (TCIS) are such advanced systems with important positive impacts. The main purpose of this study was therefore the evaluation of these impacts as well as the evaluation of Key Performance Themes (KPT) for sustainable railways. Methods Firstly a very detailed literature review of papers that have focused on TCIS and their improvements on railway sustainability, published in the scientific journal in the period from 2005 and 2016, was performed. The number of studies was then used as a main criteria in Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) evaluations or rankings of these systems and their impacts. Results The paper offers results from the first systematic review of papers which investigate the role of TCIS in terms of sustainability and, additionally, represents a refined approach to TCIS classification with a new classes descriptions. During review KPT for sustainable railways were also identified. Further, AHP evaluated the Train Management and Interlocking Systems and their subsystems as the most important TCIS, and safety and costs of equipment, installation, maintenance and operation as the most important themes. ConclusionsThe results are important for both, scholars for their future research and for other railway stakeholders and decision makers, who must select different systems and technologies for implementation in their railway systems with emphasis on increasing performance and sustainability. The study offers also the opportunities for further research in regard to railway sustainability.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the prevalence of the application of standards and their positive influence on the efficiency and competitiveness of Slovenian logistics service providers. Moreover, an analysis was also done on the relationship between the adoption of the environmental standard and greater concern for the environment. Design/methodology/approach – A small sample analysis was done using a combination of statistical methods and an abductive approach. A χ2 analysis was utilized to test the hypotheses. Findings – Many benefits were indicated. However, a positive relationship between quality standards and efficiency, as well as competitiveness, was not confirmed. In addition, the implementation of ISO 14001 quality standards was found to have no effect on the higher investment in environmental protection. Research limitations/implications – This study is limited by its local aspect (Slovenia), small sample size and its focus on just quality standards and their external factors. Future studies should be extended to the countries of eastern Europe and should further examine the relationship of internal factors as well as the relationship between the adoption of quality standards and the supply chain. Practical implications – A survey is essential not just for the Slovenian industry but also for the wider logistics industry as well as for government authorities and standards providers. Originality/value – This is one of the first papers written to analyse the effects of quality standards on international logistics service providers and the first paper that has explored the impact of standards on Slovenian logistics service providers.