Compared with most transport options, rail is a low carbon way to travel, but that hasn’t stopped operators spreading their sustainability wings wide and looking for further ways to be more environmentally conscious. There’s also an increasing focus on social sustainability and reducing plastics and waste that could go to landfill. Alongside on-board waste and emissions, many operators also recognise their responsibilities beyond rolling stock, like lowering the emissions of the stations they manage.
We quizzed some of our rail partners to hear what they’re doing to meet Government targets and find out where they’re going above and beyond the legal requirements to take better care of people and the planet.
TransPennine Express
Our first stop looks at intercity rail provider, TransPennine Express. They have a vision to ‘Take the North Further’, providing services across the North of England and into Scotland. Following an investment of more than £500m, including the introduction of a fleet of brand-new electric, bi-mode and diesel Nova trains.
Rail travellers using TransPennine’s new Nova 1 (Class 802) bi-mode trains, which use diesel when there are no wires - but can run on electricity when running under wires - are significantly reducing their carbon travel emissions compared to travelling by car. TransPennine also maintain high standard in waste, with recycling rates rising from 36 per cent to 65 percent in recent years. Further reductions are expected in 2022 by working with station tenants, cleaners, and reintroducing manual segregation at its largest waste-generating location. Any waste that can’t be recycled is sent to Energy from Waste to generate electricity, meaning that they continue to send zero waste to landfill.
Social sustainability
TPE’s sustainability plans go beyond the leafy, low carbon preconceptions of sustainability and include a social focus too. The operator may be working to transform rail services through the provision of high levels of performance, greater connectivity, improvements at stations, enhanced accessibility, measures to improve sustainability and further investment but its social sustainability goals are a particular area of pride. They are making great strides forward in positively impacting communities and society with charity and volunteering work, alongside inspiring and coaching the next generation through its outreach programmes - support they offer to local schools - and working with the Prince’s Trust.
Sustainability is clearly a key focus for TransPennine Express and the signs are there to say that reducing its carbon impact will continue to figure prominently in its plans going forward.
Avanti West Coast
Avanti West Coast aims to be net zero carbon by 2031. To get there, it aims to create a full carbon footprint in line with science-based target methodology, including the energy from its trains and stations as well as from other activities, including its supply chain. Its Climate train, known as ‘Opportunity’, is Avanti’s next step in showcasing its commitment to decarbonisation.
Fleet modernisation
Avanti are replacing their 20 diesel Voyager trains with a combination of 10 new electric trains and 13 new diesel/electric bi-mode trains, which stop using diesel when running on electrified lines. While they await the new fleet, their target this year is to reduce their traction carbon (a measure of carbon efficiency) by 5% compared to pre Covid 2019 levels.
Carbon emission reduction in day-to-day operations
Avanti has set an interim target for its stations to reduce absolute energy consumption 23% by 2026 (this year’s target is to reduce non-traction energy by 1% as compared to pre-Covid 2019 levels). To do this, they’re developing its building management systems at their stations, which will provide smart controls for lighting (eventually fully LED) and heating which will be upgraded. This year, they also plan to carry out a voltage optimisation trial to see how they can reduce the overall consumption of electricity.
Waste reduction
Avanti is actively promoting digital tickets to all customers and reducing the excess paper used as part of ticket distribution. This year, they’ve set a target of zero waste to landfill and a target of 65% recycling at SFO stations. But the target with the greatest impact on its recycling targets, is the introduction of waste segregation officers at more of its stations (following on from a trial at Crewe) to make sure waste goes to the ‘right’ place.
London North Eastern Railway - LNER
LNER’s stance on sustainability is to make it a part of all that they do. From minimising and recycling waste, to embracing the rail decarbonisation challenge, they are committed to managing and reducing their impact on the planet. To do this, its environmental sustainability strategy focuses on three areas: Decarbonisation, Energy efficiency and Waste, Air Quality and Biodiversity.
Rail industry targets aim to decarbonise by 2050 and remove diesel only trains a decade before that, but LNER are aiming to achieve those much earlier, reaching net zero carbon by 2045.
Say goodbye to diesel-only
With a new fleet of Azuma trains, LNER have already been able to retire their diesel only High-Speed Trains (HSTs), beating the government’s timescales by 21 years. This move to a fully electric and bi-mode fleet, means that LNER diesel fuel consumption will be reduced by more than 9 million litres in 2020/21 (compared to the previous year).
Beyond rolling stock
LNER aren’t just focusing on their vehicle emission. Refurbishments at Grantham and Peterborough and waiting rooms in Doncaster introduced more energy efficient equipment and low energy lighting. Durham Station’s external lighting was upgraded in July 2021, replacing existing luminaries with LED equivalents, which results in an annual reduction of 1 tonne CO2e. At their Clayhills Depot in Aberdeen, inflatable doors have been installed to retain heat in the maintenance shed and washroom facilities have been upgraded with efficient alternatives, including showers and toilets. Behind the scenes at Newcastle Station, they have created a waste sorting hub to improve segregation of waste from its own facilities, customers, tenants and other train companies.
Providing for travellers
LNER have refreshed the signage on its platform bins with ‘Recycle Now’ icons to standardise communications with other public places and help travellers find the correct bin for their rubbish. Coffee cup recycling points are also being introduced at more of its stations, giving customers the option to recycle when on the move, introducing disposable cup recycling bins at York, Doncaster and Wakefield Westgate, where in the last 12 months, they have collected 19,500 cups for recycling. To help combat single use plastics, the operator has restored existing water fountains and installed water refill points at LNER stations, enabling customers to reuse their own bottle. Customers can find the full list of our locations on the Refill app.
2021/22 Highlights
Carbon emissions have reduced by 10% in comparison with the previous rail year. This carbon reduction has prevented 20,041 tonnes of CO2e from entering our atmosphere.
Reduced their total energy consumption by 11,097 MWh.
96.07% of the passenger kms are on electric traction.
Water consumption reduced by 1,859 m3 (that’s nearly 2 million litres).
5,500 trees planted along the East Coast main line. 0% waste to landfill maintained since June 2019.
80% of customers travelled paperless with etickets last year.
100% renewable energy at LNER stations where LNER control and purchase the supply.
Great Western Railway - GWR
GWR provides high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train services. They supports over 100 million passengers every year - across South Wales, the West Country, the Cotswolds, and large parts of Southern England. Their aim is to deliver a strategy that encompasses eight key themes: customers, environment, communities, employees, integrated transport and accessibility, reporting and transparency, procurement and economy. The comprehensive plan includes stand-out aims that include (among many others):
Updating their Carbon Calculator to provide more specific data on emissions from rail journeys.
Provide an integrated and accessible transport system, that will support different forms of travel and improve our customers' door-to-door journeys.
Achieving and maintaining certification for ISO standards 14001 (Environmental Management) and ISO 50001 (Energy Management) for the entire franchise
Installing intelligent heating and lighting controls at stations and depots across the network.
Installing Air Source Heat Pumps and Voltage Optimisation Units at all feasible locations across the network.
Invest in programmes to assist the long-term unemployed, such as The Prince’s Trust 'Get into Railways' Scheme, work placements and employability skills mentoring.
Offering affordable fares to make sure cost is not a barrier to people choosing to travel by rail.
Work with local authorities to increase services on Cornish branch lines to provide better connections with our main line services
Tackling food waste and supporting communities
In practice, this strategy is having real-world results, like launching its exciting new scheme to help tackle food waste in the rail industry, while supporting families in need.
With passenger numbers dropping in the last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, GWR found itself with a surplus of the food provided as part of its on-board catering services. By teaming up with food sharing organisation Olio, GWR worked to redistribute in-date food leftover from its on-board catering service to local communities and charities across the Great Western Network. This partnership allows them to continue to support local charities and communities, while maintaining its commitment to being a sustainable business by sending zero waste direct to landfill.
Launched in 2015, Olio’s free app allows people to connect with neighbours and local businesses so that surplus food can be shared, not thrown away.