Railcars in Stainless Steel - A Sustainable Solution for Sustainable Public Transport

Produced by the world organization for stainless steel, the International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF), in a new publication, discusses increasing the sustainability profile of the rail industry with the use of stainless steel railcars.

Current efforts to make our mobile lifestyle more sustainable are increasingly focused on the benefits of public transport. A shift from motor vehicles to public transport solutions, such as rail, will significantly reduce the amount of greenhouse and other noxious gases being pumped into the atmosphere. Rail in particular can provide resource saving, environmentally friendly solutions to our growing mobility needs.

Utilising stainless steel to create railcars increases the sustainability profile of the rail industry. Its durability and minimal maintenance requirements make stainless a good choice economically. Energy saving lightweight designs, a high level of recycled content and 100% recyclability at-the-end of life are the cornerstones of stainless steel’s environmental profile. Add the bright contemporary finish of stainless steel and the sustainability profile of the rail industry is further strengthened. Stainless steel in railcars is a good example of how the social, economic and environmental factors of material selection interact to make a technical solution sustainable.

This publication discusses:

• What makes stainless steel a sustainable material?
• Decades of experience in railcars
• Why stainless steel?
• Which stainless steel?
• Stainless steel in operation

And contains 4 case studies:

• Case study 1: Let’s Tango
• Case study 2: Next generation Underground in Hamburg
• Case study 3: Stainless steel-containing trams serves Alicante Coastline
• Case study 4: Japan Rail satisfied with stainless steel for over 50 years

Read more.