RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE-CHALLENGES FOR RAIL OPERATORS

Significant interaction can be revealed between infrastructure operation of the railway line and climate change effects. Climate protection risk analysis can show us how we assess the climate change sensitivity of rail development projects: modernization of railway lines or railway electrifications. The rail transport facilities are usually less sensitive to the long-term changes in the average values of the climatic parameters - they are mainly affected by the extreme weather events. The planned rail infrastructure and the higher quality of transport services need adaptation strategies to be developed according to assessed risk levels. Strategies should focus on the main problems, like: a) Intensive damage of the earthwork and the substructure due to the rainfall, b) Medical meteorological effects on passengers (heat, UV rays) deterioration of the travel comfort, c) Decrease of the load bearing capacity due to the increase of water content, d) Increased dilatation moves (turnouts). This paper will describe why the application of such adaptation strategies can be advantageous for the European rail operator companies and how these documents provide opportunities for precursory planning and timing of maintenance activities.