Impact of Climate Change-Induced Extreme Events on Rail Transportation–Regional Perspective from Türkiye in the Context of SDG 2030

Abstract

Transportation plays a vital role in supporting the economic and social development needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. With global climate change, extreme weather events are occurring more frequently than they did decades ago, making nearly all transportation infrastructure vulnerable. During these extreme events, infrastructure may suffer direct and indirect damage, jeopardizing public safety and leading to significant economic and social consequences. Flooding is the most common weather-related disruption in the transportation sector. Analyzing and understanding past flooding events is crucial for predicting their impacts on transportation systems and developing resilient networks for the future. Flooding compromises railway reliability by damaging infrastructure and causing increased disruptions within the network. Heavy rainfall can overwhelm drainage systems, thereby increasing the risk of flooding. Given the limited research on climate-related threats in the rail sector, this study examines the effects of flooding on rail transportation in Türkiye. The main objective is to assess the impact of climate change-induced floods on railways and to identify adaptation measures that can enhance their resilience. Given the long lifespan of railway infrastructure, climate change adaptation should be prioritized both when constructing new systems and when modifying existing ones in the context of SDG 2030.

Keywords

• Floods
• Rail transportation
• Climate change
• Adaptation
• Türkiye

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