Railway air conditioning is currently a key concern for the railway sector. Between climate change, rapidly evolving European regulations, and rising energy costs, air conditioning systems must meet ever-increasing demands in terms of performance, reliability, and energy efficiency.


A rapidly changing environment

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

  • ensure passenger thermal comfort, even in severe conditions,
  • ensure the robustness and reliability of onboard installations,
  • Anticipate maintenance operations to avoid breakdowns during periods of high temperatures.

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


Increasingly stringent regulatory constraints

Two major regulatory frameworks directly impact rail air conditioning.

The F-Gas Regulation

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

  • A gradual reduction in HFCs is underway, with the goal of virtually eliminating them by 2050.
  • Quotas will decrease significantly between 2025 and 2027, leading to a shortage of refrigerants and a significant increase in their costs.
  • A European tax proportional to the warming power of gases is planned from 2026.


REACH and the issue of PFAS

REACH regulations also target per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS):

  • HFC and HFO fluids are considered persistent pollutants,
  • A massive restriction is in the works, with a gradual ban on the use of PFAS over the next few years, including for mobile applications.

These regulatory changes require careful planning when choosing air conditioning technologies and solutions.


A major energy and economic impact

Air conditioning accounts for between 10 and 30% of a train's non-traction electricity consumption. With electricity prices continuing to rise, every kilowatt-hour consumed has a direct impact on operating costs.

For information purposes only

  • A short train generates daily air conditioning costs of between €15 and €20.
  • A long train can cost up to €120 per day, or several million euros per year for an entire fleet.

Energy optimization of air conditioning systems is therefore becoming a key competitive advantage for rail operators.


Support from MASTERIS

A wholly owned subsidiary of SNCF Voyageurs, MASTERIS supports its customers throughout the entire rolling stock life cycle, from acquisition to dismantling. Faced with climatic, 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 comprehensive approach that integrates technical performance, carbon footprint reduction, and cost control, in line with CSR commitments.
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