Environmental Comparism of Road and Railway Transport: A Case Study in Hungary

Abstract

The influence of mankind around the world is unquestionable. Resources are used and pollution is made during the transportation of human capital, raw materials, semifinal and final products. Nowadays pollution is a key factor in the progress towards sustainability in all sectors. Recently only the transport sector has not been able to fulfil the requirements and lower its emission in Europe. Further on there is a global pressure on modal shift from road to rail. But the question is still not answered whether the rail transport pollutions less? This article aims to present a method of analysis and to answer these questions in the case of Hungary.

Sustainability Indicators in Assessing Urban Transport Systems

“…However most of the studies regarding sustainable transportation concentrate on the environmental impacts of motorized transportation modes (Török, 2014), hence it can be seen, that sustainable development reflect only to the environmental impacts (Tóth-Szabó and Várhelyi, 2012). This barrier was mentioned by Litman (2013), who stated that some of the variables and conceptions suggested in different studies reflect to and monitor the environmental aspects, consequently decision making processes provide ecologically effective, but economically ineffective solutions.…”

Usage of Production Functions in the Comparative Analysis of Transport Related Fuel Consumption

“…However, only the technological development can complete the emissions reduction without harming the economy. Accordingly, the common objectives to reduce the environmental pollution (Torok, 2014, Mitsakis, 2014, in particular greenhouse gas emissions, will depend on the substitution of composite goods (that contains labour work and investment) and fossil fuels. Further statistical analysis indicates that the Cobb-Douglas coefficients have not changed significantly in this case.…”

Driving Forces in Carbon Dioxide Emissions of the Hungarian Transport Sector

“…The carbon dioxide emissions of the Hungarian transport sector, its effects on climate change and possible solutions are presented by Tánczos and Török (2008). Similarly to the findings of the international literature, increasing the proportion of railway traffic in Hungary has a significant decarbonization potential, but this requires a low-carbon energy mix (Török, 2014). In addition to differentiating the structure of transport, other aspects are worth considering.…”