Sustainable performance assessment of rail freight transportation using triple bottom line approach: An application to Indian Railways

Freight transportation provides a significant contribution to the growth of national economies. The uncontrollable greenhouse gas emissions have caught the attention of governments worldwide to achieve sustainability in freight transportation. This research aims to assess the performance of sustainable rail freight transportation (SRFT) using twelve sustainability indicators. We employed the proposed triple bottom line framework for SRFT performance evaluation of Indian Railways (IR). We applied content analysis for data collection from IR's annual reports, yearbooks, and annual statistical statements between the financial year 2007–08 and 2020–21. Sustainability assessment results revealed that IR delivered impressive environmental and social performances, while economic indicators reported mixed results. IR performed better in energy efficiency, emission factor, mean load factor, average unit cost, net tonne-km per wagon per day, accident rate, and average annual wage per employee. IR delivered poor results in land usage, freight market share, the average speed of freight trains, and employment generated during the assessment period. A sustainable performance comparison between rail and road freight transport revealed that IR needs to revamp freight transportation policies to increase its market share against road transport. An intermodal railroad should be the preferred mode of freight transport. The proposed comprehensive framework can be used as a benchmarking tool to compare the SRFT performance of emerging economies. The article concluded with managerial recommendations to facilitate policymakers in decisions regarding SRFT. • We used triple bottom line dimensions to assess rail freight transport performance. • We collected recent fourteen years of data from Indian Railways' published reports. • Indicators that obstruct and boost the SRFT are identified based on the assessment. • Indian Railways should make efforts for higher rail freight turnover than road mode. • The intermodal railroad should be the preferred mode of freight transport in India.