Sustainability
Our railways across Great Britain are already the most sustainable way to transport large numbers of people and goods across the country – but we cannot be complacent.
Rail Delivery Group is supporting the industry to become even greener with a number of initiatives to help protect our planet.
We are committed to net zero targets and are working with partners across the rail industry to drive sustainability improvements including through the reduction of orange magnetic stripe ticketing and our work leading the rail industry's Green Travel Pledge.
As part of Rail Delivery Group’s efforts to reduce the impacts of our own operations, we joined The Climate Pledge in April 2021. We are committed to measuring, reporting and reducing our emissions and you can find our annual GHG reports here:
- 2020-2021 RDG Carbon Footprint Report
- 2021-2022 RDG Carbon Footprint Report
- 2022-2023 RDG Carbon Footprint Report
- 2023-2024 RDG Carbon Footprint Report
Below we’re sharing just a few of the wide-ranging initiatives being led by partners across the rail industry:
What the rail industry is doing to become even more sustainable
Rail Delivery Group wants businesses to make greener travel choices with new carbon emission data now available
The latest phase of Green Travel Pledge data shows that carbon emissions are lower on 93.8% of over 80,000 rail business journeys compared to travelling by petrol and diesel car.
Rail Industry agrees new framework to meet sustainability challenges
The RSSB has launched the Sustainable Rail Blueprint, a new framework to support the rail industry in Great Britain make efficient progress on environmental and social sustainability challenges.
Chiltern Railways on track for a greener future with vegetable oil powered trains
Train operator Chiltern Railways has launched vegetable oil powered trains on its network – the first instance of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) being used in passenger service in the UK.
87% reduction in environmental impact of producing rail tickets
Paragon ID has reduced by 87% the environmental impact of the process that it uses to produce rail tickets.
South Western Railway’s “ambitious” net zero targets approved by leading global climate body
A leading global climate body has approved South Western Railway's (SWR) “ambitious” targets to become a net zero carbon train operator.
Sustainable Travel Education Toolkit launched
CrossCountry and Community Rail Education Network have launched the UK’s first Sustainable Travel Educational Toolkit.
TransPennine Express first rail operator to be declared Carbon Literate
TransPennine Express (TPE) has proven going green can be rewarding after being formally recognised as Carbon Literate.
GTR announces three new community energy generation schemes with Energy Garden
Train operator Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has agreed contracts with community climate action group Energy Garden to install solar panels at three of its main depots.
TPE on track to a greener future by welcoming its inaugural sustainability apprentice onboard
TransPennine Express (TPE), which operates trains and stations across the North of England and into Scotland, has welcomed its first ever apprentice into the sustainability team.