Risks and consequences of weather hazards on railway infrastructure

Weather-related hazards are already among the factors most frequently causing disturbances for railways. Flooding and storm are considered major threats to the system. Climate change might in the long run produce new kinds of hazards and threats to the railway system, but the climate change will principally involve a strengthening of the already known threats, in terms of increased frequency as well as increased intensity. Based on examples of natural hazards’ impact on railways, possible approaches of vulnerability assessment are described which could also address potential consequences of climate change. In order to reduce the effects of weather hazards technical countermeasures are necessary, but also an appropriate risk management as, e.g., required for flooding in the European Union.