Mapping climate change - barriers and opportunities for action

The rail network
Important effects of climate change
Based on future projections of climate change, see section 3, key consequences for the national rail
network will include
Increased water amounts will enhance the risk of flooding and landslides:
Flooding events and rises in groundwater level will enhance the risk of landslides and
embankment failures. A rise in mean sea level could pose a problem for rail services where
embankment and slope drainage systems divert the water into nearby watercourses that are
affected by the rise in sea level. Damming up of water in the watercourse could affect the
water level in trenches.
More powerful storms could lead to breakdowns of overhead wires and fallen trees:
On electrified railway lines, powerful storms and greater wind speeds may lead to greater
frequency of breakdowns of overhead wires and to more incidents with trees falling across
the tracks. This may result in interrupted train services with consequences for traffic and for
the economy.
The most prominent impacts on the rail network from future climate change are assessed to be an
increased risk of landslides and embankment failures, enhanced risk of flooding of railway terrains
and more frequent events with overhead wires falling down and trees being knocked over by
storms.
Division of responsibilities between the authorities and private citizens
The division of responsibilities between the authorities and private citizens with regard to climate
change adaptation in the railway area is relatively clear-cut today. Rail Net Denmark is responsible
for its own activity in terms of climate change adaptation, which involves climate-proofing an
efficient and operational railway.
Possibilities for adaptation
Rail Net Denmark, which manages the major part of the national railway infrastructure, is already
in the process of preparing for the predicted increase in precipitation, higher groundwater level,
stronger winds and higher temperatures. Climate change preparations include analyses of roadrelated
events, such as embankment failures (of which there were two in 2010 and 2011,
respectively); establishing warning systems which ensure a high level of security for the railway;
revising existing technical railway standards; and by analysing the need to incorporate climate
change adaptation in planning of new rail installations.
Initiatives completed and in progress
On the basis of the Ministry of Transport's climate change adaptation strategy, performance
requirements for climate change adaptation were introduced in the 2012 performance contracts of
all major institutions under the Ministry. These performance requirements entail preparing an action
plan for climate change adaptation with targets and a milestone plan, as well as a "declaration of
services" concerning the availability of the transport infrastructure.
To prevent accidents on the railway following heavy downpours, Rail Net Denmark has introduced
a new early warning procedure which can shut down the train service in the event of problems. Rail
Net Denmark has implemented routines for intensified inspection and control of problematic
41