摘要: |
To ensure the objectives of a sustainable transport policy the European Commission intends to apply strategic environmental assessment as an integral part of the decision-making process for transport infrastructure policies and for the trans-European networks in particular. An overview of the results of a study on the environmental impact of the European high-speed train (HST) network is provided. The study was conducted by the research and consulting group Mens en Ruimte on behalf of the Directorate-General of Transport of the European Commission. The aim of the study was (a) to make a strategic assessment of the environmental impact of the European HST network and (b) to compare this with the impact of the conventional modes of long-distance transport of passengers (i.e., motorways, conventional rail, and aviation). The HST network studied corresponds to the master plan drafted by the European Commission. This plan has been drawn up with a view to the year 2010 and comprises the 12 member states, Australia, and Switzerland. In all, the network consists of +/-9800 km of new lines able to cope with trains with speeds of up to 300 km/hr and +/-14,400 km of upgraded old lines to handle trains with speeds of 200 km/hr and more. Environment has been interpreted in the broadest sense. The themes that are considered in particular are spatial impact (i.e., land use, barrier effects, impact on landscape and sensitive sites, and effects on the spatial organization of activities and on the urban environment), primary energy consumption, air pollution, noise pollution, and traffic safety. The evaluation of the influence of the HST network is performed by comparing scenarios with and without the HST network. The analysis relates to the year 2010, with 1988 as the base year. |