Towards a two-part train traffic emissions factor model for airborne wear particles

In 2017 a new railway tunnel containing two stations opened in Stockholm, Sweden. A series of field measurements were carried out on the platforms in this tunnel before and after it was opened for normal traffic. These measurements were used to investigate the contribution of airborne particle emissions from wear processes to total train emissions. This field data was used to develop a two-part train traffic emission factor model for PM10. The two parts are the accumulative effect term (relating to operating distance such as wheel-rail contact and overhead electric line sliding contact) and a brake effect term (relating to the number of braking operations such as brake disc and brake pad contact). The results show that operating a single trial train at a higher than normal frequency on an otherwise empty platform increases the platform particulate concentration until the concentration reaches a steady value. The model suggests that brake emissions account for about 50% of the total emissions measured in the tunnels.