Train: ADEME 🇫🇷
High‑Level Description
ADEME (French Agency for Ecological Transition) provides a comprehensive methodology to assess the environmental impacts of train travel.
Coverage spans the full lifecycle (vehicle and infrastructure production, operations, maintenance, and end‑of‑life).
Key drivers include train type (high‑speed, mainline, local/express), traction/fuel (electricity vs. diesel), grid mix, and infrastructure allocation.
Intended users: railway operators, policymakers, aggregators, and product teams who need transparent, audit‑ready train CO₂e estimates.
API Request (Sample)
{
  "expand": ["items"],
  "items": [
    {
      "type": "train",
      "external_reference": "test_2",
      "origin": "BER",
      "destination": "FRA",
      "number_of_travelers": 3,
      "train_type": "mainline",
      "fuel_type": "diesel",
      "methodology": "ADEME"
    }
  ]
}API Request Items
"type": "train"(required)"methodology": "ADEME"(required)"external_reference": A unique identifier linking results to the requested item. Max length: 128 chars."number_of_travelers": Minimum1. Default:1."origin": Origin location (see Origin/Destination Formats below)."destination": Destination location (see Origin/Destination Formats below)."distance_in_km": If provided, this value is prioritized overorigin/destination. If both are present,distance_in_kmis used."train_type": One ofhigh_speed,mainline,local_express. Default:local_express."fuel_type": One ofdiesel,electricity. Default:diesel.
Default Values
{
  "fuel_type": "diesel",
  "train_type": "local_express",
  "number_of_travelers": 1
}Origin/Destination Formats (Enriched)
SQUAKE will try to resolve the origin/destination regardless of its format. Ideally:
Addresses: Use the Post standard.
Airports: Use IATA/ICAO code (regex:
^[A-Z]{3,4}$, e.g.,"MUC").Ports/Trade locations: Use UN/LOCODE (regex:
^[A-Z]{2}\W?[A-Z2-9]{3}$, e.g.,"DEHAM").Coordinates: Pass latitude/longitude (regex:
^[-+]?\d{1,3}\.\d{1,10}\s?,\s?[-+]?\d{1,3}\.\d{1,10}$, e.g.,"+40.712,-74.006").
UIC and Provider Codes for Trains
UIC code is also a valid format for trains. If the value is not valid, the system will fallback to general, non‑journey‑specific emission data.
When you want to use a UIC or provider code, use the following format:
<provider>:<uic_code>(e.g.,sncf:FRAAA)
Possible provider prefixes:
uicuic8_sncfsncfsncf_tvsenturdbbusbuddistribusionflixbuscffleoexpressobbtrenitaliatrenitalia_rtvttrenordntv_rtivntvhkxrenfeatocbenerailwestbahn
Examples
// Using UIC/provider code
{
  "type": "train",
  "methodology": "ADEME",
  "origin": "db:8011160",        // Berlin Hbf (example code structure)
  "destination": "db:8000105",   // Frankfurt (Main) Hbf (example code structure)
  "number_of_travelers": 2
}
// Using UN/LOCODEs (for multimodal contexts)
{
  "type": "train",
  "methodology": "ADEME",
  "origin": "DEBER",             // Berlin (city code example)
  "destination": "DEFRA",        // Frankfurt (city code example)
  "number_of_travelers": 1
}
// Using coordinates
{
  "type": "train",
  "methodology": "ADEME",
  "origin": "+52.525,13.369",
  "destination": "+50.110,8.682",
  "number_of_travelers": 1
}Notes
If both
origin/destinationanddistance_in_kmare provided,distance_in_kmis used for emissions.Invalid, unsupported, or unresolvable location codes will trigger a fallback to generic (non‑journey‑specific) factors consistent with ADEME.
Sample API Response
{
  "carbon_quantity": 6669,
  "carbon_unit": "gram",
  "items": [
    {
      "carbon_quantity": 6669,
      "carbon_unit": "gram",
      "external_reference": "test_2",
      "type": "train",
      "methodology": "ADEME",
      "distance": 435.0,
      "distance_unit": "kilometer"
    }
  ]
}Bibliography
GHG information for transport services (June 2019). Ministère de la Transition Écologique et Solidaire. URL: https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/Information_GES%20-%202019.pdf
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