Chapter 5 The Impacts of Climate Change on National Road and Rail Networks

Abstract

Purpose – To investigate the potential impacts of future climate change in the United Kingdom on its road and rail networks.

Methodology/approach – The climate change impacts of increasing summer temperatures, decreasing winter temperatures, increased heavy precipitation, greater numbers of extreme weather events and rises in sea level are reviewed.

Findings – Surface transportation is the most exposed element to the localised impacts of climate change. High summer temperatures will result in road rutting, rail buckling and decreased thermal comfort, whereas more intense winter precipitation will cause flooding, landslips and bridge scour across all modes. For all impacts, it is the extreme events (e.g. heat waves and storms) that are potentially the most devastating. As shown, there are some positive climate change impacts. For example, in the case of winter maintenance, all transport networks stand to benefit.

Originality/value – In order for transport to react appropriately to the potential changes in climate, it is essential to understand how the road and rail networks may be affected and to build strategies for both adaptation and mitigation into plans for future developments for both modes.

Citation

Hooper, E. and Chapman, L. (2012), "Chapter 5 The Impacts of Climate Change on National Road and Rail Networks", Ryley, T. and Chapman, L. (Ed.) Transport and Climate Change (Transport and Sustainability, Vol. 2), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 105-136. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2044-9941(2012)0000002008