Speaker
Description
Climate change remains a persistent global challenge, significantly affecting critical infrastructure, including transportation networks. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlights the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as heavy precipitation, floods, storms, and sea-level rise, all of which pose substantial risks to transport systems worldwide. These hazards disrupt railway operations, cause infrastructure damage, and impose significant economic burdens.
Türkiye, strategically positioned between Asia and Western Europe, plays a vital role in international trade and transport connectivity. As a member of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), Türkiye participates in broader regional and international transport initiatives, such as the Transport Infrastructure Needs Assessment (TINA) and the Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA). However, its diverse topography and geographical location expose its railway infrastructure to significant climate risks. The Mediterranean Basin faces increasing threats of droughts and flooding, while the Black Sea region is prone to floods and landslides.
Following its ratification of the Paris Agreement in 2021, Türkiye has developed an institutional and political framework; as notable steps in climate change mitigation and adaptation, Türkiye committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 41% by 2030 compared to a Business-as-Usual (BaU) scenario. Mitigation efforts in the railway sector include expanding electrified rail networks, increasing rail’s share in freight and passenger transport, and integrating intermodal and multimodal strategies. However, while railway transport plays a crucial role in emissions reduction, it must also become more resilient to extreme weather conditions.
This study reviews and evaluates innovative technologies that both mitigate railway-related emissions and enhance adaptation to climate change. A comprehensive review of current technologies was conducted, supplemented by expert interviews with 21 professionals (17 from Türkiye and 4 from the UK) and an assessment at the 3rd UK-Türkiye Rail Forum. During the forum, which brought together stakeholders from the Turkish and UK railway sectors, a structured technology prioritization matrix was developed and distributed to sectoral experts to evaluate critical technologies.
The findings emphasize that technological integration should focus on water level monitoring, culvert monitoring, railway track monitoring, and predictive maintenance systems, as these are particularly critical for ensuring railway resilience against climate hazards. Flooding, heat waves, landslides, avalanches, and frost are among the most significant challenges affecting the railway network, requiring targeted technological solutions to mitigate their impacts. A major challenge in implementing climate-resilient technologies is the variation in topography and climate risks across Türkiye’s railway corridors. Generalized investment approaches may not be effective, highlighting the need for hazard-specific modeling. Given the prevalence of riverbeds and crossings along rail corridors, integrating riverbed monitoring with flood modeling and multi-hazard vulnerability analyses is essential for adaptation planning. Additionally, historical and real-time climate data should be leveraged to refine predictive models, ensuring railway infrastructure can withstand future climate extremes. Furthermore, new railway lines under construction and in the planning stages should be incorporated into technological integration efforts, ensuring that climate resilience is embedded into the future railway network rather than applied retroactively.
By combining mitigation and adaptation strategies, railway networks can transition toward a more sustainable and resilient future. This study underscores the importance of technology-driven adaptation, emphasizing the role of data-driven decision-making in optimizing infrastructure investments and enhancing operational efficiency in the face of evolving climate challenges.
| Keywords | Railway; Resilience; Adaptation; Climate Change; Technology |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
