The environmental impacts of various rail passenger ticketing options in Japan

This paper quantifies the environmental impacts of the different rail ticketing options available in Japan. It is found that, in terms of their increasing impacts, the ranking is the rechargeable smart card system, the limited use plastic card, and the one-use paper ticket. Touch-and-go ticketing impacts are higher because of limited ticket reuse levels and higher gate energy consumption, especially during standby periods.

Research highlights
► Touch-and-go rail ticketing environmental impact lower than insert-type impact.
► Ticket reuse and machinery standby are major reasons for differences in impact.
► Touch-and-go ticketing is environmentally cleaner.
► Machinery modifications and operational changes can decrease impacts.