Christine Vanoppen, Sustainability Manager at Lineas, shares the success story of Belgium’s largest rail freight operator in running locomotives on sustainable fuels.
Lineas is Europe’s largest private rail freight operator, playing a leading role in promoting sustainable transport solutions. With operations spanning across Europe, the company provides an efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to road transport. As part of its green strategy, Lineas is actively testing locomotives powered by biofuels, aligning with its ambitious sustainability goals.
Lineas is committed to Science Based Targets and aims to significantly reduce CO2 emissions by 2030. The company’s goal is to cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42%. Currently, 15% of its tonne-kilometres are still powered by diesel traction, presenting a significant opportunity for further decarbonisation. In addition to electrification, Lineas is exploring alternative fuels such as biofuels to achieve these reductions.
Full electrification is not yet feasible in certain areas, particularly in ports. Biofuels such as HVO and FAME offer a viable alternative. HVO has already been successfully tested by other transport operators. However, to avoid complete reliance on HVO, Lineas decided to also trial FAME. Cost is another key factor—as demand for HVO increases, particularly from the aviation sector, its price is rising, making FAME a more attractive alternative.\
One of the biggest challenges with FAME was fuel gelling in cold temperatures. To address this, tests were conducted specifically during winter. By partnering with Cargill, the company identified the right additives to maintain fuel performance regardless of weather conditions. Following extensive testing, Lineas can now offer customers biofuel-powered services, including FAME, even in winter.
While customers are enthusiastic, cost remains a barrier. Biofuels are more expensive than conventional diesel, and many customers hesitate when faced with the higher price. Despite this, Lineas continues to develop cost-effective solutions, anticipating that demand for greener transport will grow over time.
Transitioning to biofuels is not just about technical adjustments to locomotives—logistical challenges also play a role. One major obstacle is the lack of dedicated refuelling infrastructure in ports. Currently, refuelling with HVO or FAME often relies on tanker trucks, which is inefficient and increases the risk of spills and leaks. To scale up biofuel use, dedicated refuelling stations must be built in ports, complying with strict regulations. However, this requires time and investment.
Rail freight is already six to nine times more efficient than road transport in terms of carbon emissions. The impact can be further reduced when using biofuels such as HVO and FAME. Rail has a head start in decarbonisation, as much of the network is already electrified. For long-distance transport, rail is far more efficient than road haulage. Through multimodal collaboration, where rail and road transport complement each other, goods transport can become both greener and more efficient.
Multimodal transport plays a crucial role in the future of sustainable freight. This approach combines different transport modes—such as rail and road—to move goods efficiently. Rail is the most sustainable option for long distances, while road transport is better suited for short-haul delivery. Lineas sees huge potential in optimising this collaboration, particularly as road freight is only beginning its journey towards decarbonisation. By integrating rail and road transport more effectively, companies can drastically cut their CO2 emissions.
Biofuels are an important interim solution for reducing CO2 emissions in rail freight. While hydrogen and hybrid locomotives are still in development, biofuels offer a practical way to improve sustainability in the short term. Lineas continues to invest in these technologies but also recognises that rail freight already has a strong position thanks to existing electrification and infrastructure. As pressure grows on businesses to reduce their Scope 3 emissions, demand for rail freight—which offers lower congestion, lower costs, and a smaller carbon footprint—will only increase.
Lineas is determined to drive a more sustainable transport network. The company’s biofuel trials with HVO and FAME represent significant steps towards a greener future. While cost and logistics challenges remain, Lineas continues to lead the way in rail freight decarbonisation. The future of rail transport is promising, and Lineas is committed to playing a key role in this transition.
