The environmental aim for the rail industry must be to cut CO2 emissions by 50% by 2050, Michael Roberts, Chief Executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) said today.
Speaking at a conference in central London, Mr Roberts set out how the industry needs to keep on reducing its carbon footprint in the coming decades if it is to continue to live up to its billing as the greenest form of public transport.
He said that that a series of measures are needed, including:
– A long term rolling programme of electrification.
– The decarbonisation of UK power. The railways are the biggest single user of electricity in the country, accounting for around 1% of the UK’s total demand.
– More extensive application of energy efficiency, for example, by reducing the amount of electricity lost in transmission.
– Tackling station and depot emissions, which could represent up to 10% of the industry’s total CO2 emissions.
Mr Roberts set out the contribution that high speed could make to reducing transport’s overall emissions and the role that it will have to play in encouraging people out of cars and domestic flights and onto rail for intercity journeys.
He also set out the environmental case for industry reform, arguing that longer franchises and a stronger alignment between operators and Network Rail will encourage investment in environmentally friendly innovation.
Michael Roberts said: “Much has been done to drive down the environmental impact of rail travel, but the industry must continue its push to reduce carbon emissions if it is to remain the greenest form of public transport. New car technology will present a challenge to rail’s green advantage and we cannot be complacent.
“In the long term, electrification and decarbonising the UK’s power supply are central to cutting the industry’s carbon footprint. Equally there is more that needs to be done on energy efficiency – too much electricity is lost in transmission on parts of the network and train companies are working with Network Rail to see how this can be addressed.
“High speed rail has a vital role to play in encouraging people out of their cars, off domestic flights and onto trains. More generally, train companies remain committed to continue improving rail as an attractive option by offering good services, at value for money prices.”
