What do Deutsche Bahn and the environment have to do with one another?

Thousands of passenger and freight trains travelling all over Europe every day not only guarantee mobility, they also consume energy and create noise. Waste is produced in DB's workshops and at customer's premises, and some railway lines run through protected areas of countryside.

However, rail is far more environment-friendly than other motorised forms of transport. And DB is deeply committed to reducing its impact on the environment. Several hundred environmental experts are involved in reducing harmful substances, bringing down noise levels, and in recycling and waste management and climate protection. They are working steadily to improve the company's environmental performance. Because DB is well aware of its responsibilities in this area: in terms of sustainable development that is in the interests of everyone, we must not allow environmental protection to become a side-issue.

How environment-friendly is rail transport in comparison with road and air travel?

Rail transport makes a significant contribution to environment-friendly mobility: most trains travel without directly emitting exhaust gases – they are powered by electricity, some of which comes from renewable energy sources, such as water and wind. Between 1990 and 2002, DB – based on transport performance figures – also reduced its primary energy consumption by 18.5 %. Climate-damaging carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that contribute to the greenhouse effect dropped in the same period by over a quarter. Even a half-full train is considerably more climate-friendly than a fully loaded aircraft. Air travel has double the environmental impact: and it means that an aircraft on average generates 5 times more CO2 per person than a train. In addition, the polluting effects of aircraft emissions in the higher levels of the atmosphere are magnified many times.

Rail travel also fares well when compared with car travel. A car carrying an average number of people emits four times more climate-polluting gases than a train carrying a normal number of passengers over the same distance.

How much more environment-friendly am I if I leave the car at home?

You can check your personal environmental performance any time on our website at www.bahn.de. And you'll see that rail travel doesn't look bad at all: with just one train journey from Frankfurt am Main to visit the trade fair in Hanover, you will generate 5 times less CO2 emissions that if you were to go by car. The energy consumption is way below a third of that of a car. A comparison of prices and times with different modes of transport is available under "Environmental Mobility Check". Just click on the link on the rigth side.

What is DB doing to make its trains quieter?

DB is putting more and more effort into producing quieter trains and tracks. We intend to halve track noise by the year 2020. To achieve this, we are now using particularly quiet brakes on our new freight wagons and putting a lot of effort into fitting existing rolling stock with so-called "composite brake blocks", which ensure that the wheels remain smooth. Combined with regular grinding of the rails, this will halve rail noise.

What is the noise abatement programme all about?

In 1998, the Federal Government agreed a voluntary noise abatement programme for existing federal railway lines - with an annual budget of around EUR 51 million. DB is implementing this programme: it is installing noise barriers and walls in areas particularly affected and, where necessary, fitting noise-insulating windows to some houses.

On its "priority list", the Federal Ministry for Transport, Construction and Housing has singled out certain sections requiring remedial work. The urgency applied to soundproofing measures depends on the density of the housing and average noise emission level. This figure is known for all relevant sections of the railways and recorded in Deutsche Bahn's noise cadastre.

If you are affected, therefore, it is not necessary to perform a noise level measurement of your district yourself and apply for inclusion in the noise abatement programme. All you need to do is check whether your housing area is on the "priority list" and as a result get soundproofing installed in the near future. By 2003 there were already 936 noise abatement sections on the list. As the noise abatement programme is voluntary, however, there are grounds for legal claims. You will find the priority list as an attachment at the end of this document.

Legal provisions do exist for the construction of noise abatement measures in the case of new build and upgraded sections of track. DB rigorously implements these provisions for the protection of residents.

Is it not possible to do without diesel trains?

Deutsche Bahn uses diesel-powered vehicles on lines that have not been electrified. This mostly involves secondary lines in rural districts, in marshalling yards and sidings. We distinguish between diesel multiple units for passenger transport and diesel locomotives that haul passenger or freight trains.

In recent years, DB has focused increasingly on vehicles that are now becoming more environment-friendly. For local traffic in particular, modern, low-pollution diesel multiple units have been procured. Extensive re-engining has taken place in the case of locomotives - i.e. existing vehicles have been equipped with modern engine technology. All of these measures have led to a clear reduction in harmful emissions: emissions per tonne or passenger kilometre have been reduced by 78.2 % since 1990. With the re-engining of Class 290 and 294 locomotives alone, which began in 2001, DB Cargo (now "Railion") has reduced nitrogen oxide emissions by a third. There has also been significant drop in soot and carbon monoxide emissions.

Why are plants in the way on railway embankments?

Having vegetation alongside the tracks is all part of an environment-friendly railway. Trees and shrubs also have an important role to play in the stabilisation of the ground on embankments and cuttings. However, plants must not be allowed to endanger the safe operation of the railway. For instance: if tree branches block signals or grow into overhead lines, they must be cut back. With the exception of urgent cases, this is done outside the growing season. For safety reasons, any diseased or rotten trees that could drop onto the line are removed.

In the immediate vicinity of the track area, which includes the ballast and side paths, plants are undesirable. Vegetation can cover up lower signals or lead to braking problems if it grows over the rails. In the long term, vegetation can alter the characteristics of the ballast, as they gradually fill in the small gaps between individual stones in the ballast which are needed to absorb vibrations and water drainage. For this reason, specialist firms employed by DB use officially approved herbicides in this area (and only in this area). Application is very precise, i.e. only in places where it is absolutely necessary and in the smallest quantities possible. In other areas, such as slopes, embankments, platforms, paths and open spaces, non-chemical methods are used exclusively.

What does DB do with all its waste?

DB's motto is "Remove, reduce, recycle". The best kind of waste is waste that is not produced in the first place. That's why DB wants to reduce its total waste and disposal costs in the next years by 10% (excluding construction waste). At the same time, the quantity recycled is to be increased by 10%. At large stations and on trains, DB is pushing for a rigorous waste sorting programme. Subsequent recycling and removal in a p roper manner is ensured by using certified waste disposal companies.