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Green train with wording "Ride against climate change" on the side

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.

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

  • Train pictured from above going through green landscape

    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.

  • Side of train saying "this train is powered by recycled vegetable oil"

    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.  

  • An orange magstripe train ticket

    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.

  • A train driving through the countryside

    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.

  • A man in a suit presents to children at a school

    Sustainable Travel Education Toolkit launched

    CrossCountry and Community Rail Education Network have launched the UK’s first Sustainable Travel Educational Toolkit.

  • A train passing through the countryside

    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.

  • Staff standing on a depot roof installing solar panels

    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.

  • Women smiling at camera at a train station

    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.