Italian State Railways (FS) Trenitalia has taken an important step in its sustainability journey by integrating the official “Ecopassenger” calculator from the International Union of Railways (UIC) into its booking system. This new feature allows travellers to see the CO2 emissions of their train journey at the time of their ticket purchase, and compared with car and plane journeys, where relevant. Not only does this tool calculate emissions for each trip, but it also gives travellers a clear picture of the amount of CO2 saved by choosing rail over other options.
The integration of Ecopassenger is part of FS Trenitalia’s broader commitment to promoting more sustainable travel choices. As passengers may look into reducing their environmental impact, this tool helps them make informed, eco-friendly decisions, reinforcing the train’s status as one of the greenest modes of transport.
Ecopassenger is just one of the many solutions being developed by UIC to support the railway sector in addressing climate change and improving sustainability. By offering a wide range of innovative tools, from carbon calculators to digital platforms, UIC provides rail companies with the resources they need to further their environmental goals. Ecopassenger was notably built taking the updated train timetables maintained in the UIC MERITS database into account, while also integrating the rail emission factors from the UIC Traction Energy & Emissions Database (TED) participants, as well as sound emission factor references for road and aviation, further enhancing the accuracy and reliability of the emissions data presented to travellers. The adoption of Ecopassenger by FS Trenitalia reflects the quality and effectiveness of UIC’s comprehensive approach to fostering greener mobility.
This partnership between UIC and FS Trenitalia illustrates how cutting-edge technologies and solutions can be harnessed to drive the green transition. With transparent environmental data now available at the point of purchase, FS Trenitalia is helping to raise awareness and encourage travellers to make greener choices, contributing to a more sustainable future. More importantly, this initiative is not limited to their French operations; it exemplifies a wider commitment across FS Trenitalia’s network.
UIC also encourages other member railway undertakings to integrate the Ecopassenger calculator into their systems.
The Ecopassenger API is now available on a subscription basis to UIC members and partners who need to use the calculation engine on a much larger scale, and fits seamlessly into UIC’s vision of providing a range of solutions that promote sustainable rail transport globally.
