At Renfe Freight, we have a pioneering operations management centre in Spain, in operation at our headquarters in Madrid since the end of 2018. This centre is equipped with the most advanced digital technology for controlling all of the operations performed by the trains we manage. The CGO (operations management centre) monitors all of the components of the productive and commercial process in real time, from the moment a train is scheduled to run until its arrival at its destination.
The technology used is based on the Copernicus system. Each train's entire journey is monitored in real time through Copernicus, using GPS technology, and the information is made available for our customers.
We are also immersed in projects in two main areas: development of last-mile services and implementation of efficient combined-transport services such as rolling highways, which would result in a significant reduction in lorries on roads and, collaterally, a reduction in emissions from this form of transport.
We are also bringing innovation to our fleet of carriages, adapting them so that we can transport products that have to stay in the cold chain and thus ensure that they reach their destination in perfect condition.
Rail is the most sustainable mode of transport per unit transported and the least pollutant with reference to emissions. In particular, freight train transport emits nine times less CO2 than road transport and 160 times less than air carriage. Modal transfer of freight to our trains is therefore key in any sustainable transport strategy.
In 2018, savings generated thanks to Renfe Freight business amounted to 258 million euros in external costs, i.e. the monetization of consequences generated through the transport of goods: emission of pollutants into the atmosphere, energy consumption, accidents, noise pollution and traffic congestion. We also afforded an energy saving of 1,631 GWh and a reduction in CO2 emissions of 405,000 tons.
If we take into account that, in Spain and the rest of Europe, the transport sector is one of the main causes of emissions, choosing the train as a logistics partner is a decisive action in the fight against climate change. At Renfe Mercancías (Renfe Freight), we are fighting against climate change and are part of the Rail Freight Forward coalition. This European organisation was created at COP24 in Katowice, Poland, with the aim of increasing the train's share of freight transport to 30% in the next decade.
Trains currently account for an 18% share of freight transport in Europe, and just over 4% in Spain. On a global scale, with a market share of only 7%, rail freight consumes and emits less than 2% of the total energy and greenhouse gas emissions from transport. An increase in our share would not have to mean an increase in these emissions, as the railway is currently more than 70% electrified, so it can implement renewable energy without changing technology. At Renfe Mercancías (Renfe Freight), 65% of our fleet of locomotives is already electrified.
Our mission is to provide freight transport services and complementary rail transport activities or services, guided by the principle of safety, with a customer-centric approach, based on quality, efficiency, profitability and innovation criteria, pursuing an increase in the railway's market share, on the basis of commitment to the community and to the development of our employees.
Our goal is to be the benchmark comprehensive logistics and transport operator in terms of quality, efficiency, safety, sustainability and customer focus.
At Renfe Freight, we take our Integrated Management Policy as a framework for helping us achieve our strategic goals. We have four of these goals:
For this purpose, the General Management has adopted an Integrated Management System, based on international standards ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.