Railway air conditioning in the face of new climate, regulatory and energy challenges

Railway air conditioning is now at the heart of the concerns of the rail sector. Between climate change, rapid evolution of European regulations and rising energy costs, air conditioning systems must meet ever stronger requirements in terms of performance, reliability and energy efficiency.

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A context in profound change

Extreme heat episodes, with temperatures regularly exceeding 35°C, or even 40°C, are no longer exceptional. This new climate reality requires rail actors to rethink their equipment in order to:

• guarantee the thermal comfort of passengers, even in severe conditions,
• ensure the robustness and reliability of embedded installations,
• anticipate maintenance operations to avoid breakdowns during periods of hot weather.

Air conditioning is thus becoming a strategic issue, at the crossroads of comfort, industrial performance and environmental responsibility.

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Increasingly stringent regulatory requirements

Two major regulatory frameworks have a direct impact on rail air conditioning.

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The F-Gaz regulation

This European regulation aims to drastically reduce the use of fluorinated gases with a high global warming potential:

• a gradual reduction of HFCs is under way, with the objective of total elimination by 2050,
• quotas are falling sharply as early as 2025 and 2027, leading to a scarcity of refrigerants and a significant increase in their costs,
• A European tax proportional to the warming power of gases is planned from 2026.

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REACH and the PFAS issue

The REACH regulation also targets per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS):

• HFC and HFO fluids are considered to be eternal pollutants,
• a massive restriction is being prepared, with a gradual ban on the use of PFAS in the coming years, including for mobile applications.

These regulatory changes require strong foresight in the choice of air conditioning technologies and solutions.

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A major energy and economic impact

Air conditioning accounts for between 10 and 30% of a train's electricity consumption. In a context of sustainable increases in electricity prices, each kilowatt hour consumed has a direct impact on operating costs.

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• a short train generates a daily air conditioning cost of between 15 and 20€,
• a long train can reach up to €120 per day, or several million euros per year at the level of a fleet.

The energy optimization of air conditioning systems is therefore becoming a key driver of competitiveness for rail operators.

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MASTERIS support

A 100% subsidiary of SNCF Voyageurs, MASTERIS supports its customers throughout the life cycle of rolling stock, from the acquisition to the dismantling of rolling stock. Faced with climate, regulatory and economic challenges, we rely on:

• the development of innovative and eco-efficient solutions,
• specialized engineering capable of anticipating regulatory and technological developments
• a global approach integrating technical performance, carbon footprint reduction and cost control, in line with CSR commitments.