Placing environmental criteria at the forefront of transport policy has never been more important that it is today. Cuttin emissions of greenhouse gases has become one of the biggest politial issues in Europe, yet transport is proving the most intractable area to change, with emissions continuing to rise relentlessly.

The first part of this book gives a comprehensive overview on the different aspects of the rail sector's environmental performance and how it compares to other modes of transport. It looks at the current problems facing transport, the changes that are currently taking place within the rail system, and how specific issues such as local air pollution and noise are being addressed.

The second part examines how policy measures can support the railways' role in a sustainable transport system. It considers how taxes and subsidies can be used to greater effect to encourage changes in travel, whether the external costs of transport can be properly internalised, and looks at examples from Switzerland and Sweden of how policies are being put into practice.

The book has been put together by the Community of European Railways, which represents 70 railway operators and infrastructure companies across Europe.

Papers include:
The environmental advantages of rail
Roland Heinisch and Joachim Kettner
Doing more with less – further improving rail’s energy efficiency
Luc Aliadière
New ways of energising the railways
Adrian Lyons
How big is rail’s contribution to local air pollution?
Jens Borken
Numbing rail noise throughout Europe
Bert Klerk
Energy and environment research for the future
Manuel Seabra Pereira and Tiago Lopes Farias
Corporate responsibility as a means for sustained company development
Uta Maria Pfeiffer
The internalisation of external costs: can we reconcile transport and the environment?
Emile Quinet
Taxation and subsidies as steering instruments
Chris Nash
Swiss transport policy: on its way to sustainability
Max Friedli
Public transport and congestion charging – the case of Stockholm
Karl Kottenhoff
Environmental awareness and rail passenger transport in Europe
Marco Percoco and Aura Reggiani
Conclusion: Integrating transport and environment policies at a European level
Johannes Ludewig and Matthew Ledbury

The book also features forewords from the EU Commissioners responsible for transport and for the environment, Jaques Barrot and Stavros Dimas.

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