When it comes to sustainability in the rail industry, travelling or transporting freight is a more efficient and sustainable method than both flying and travelling by road. Rail freight uses 80% less energy than trucks per ton of freight carried and creates just a quarter of the emissions that would be generated by the equivalent number of cars.
This is not to say that the rail industry should stand still, however. The industry can – and should – be making concerted steps to become more sustainable in order to support the nation’s net-zero goals.
Becoming increasingly sustainable would also make rail transport more lucrative for passengers, with one study showing sustainability to be one of the top four purchase drivers for UK consumers and another finding the majority would support increasing taxes if money raised was used to fund sustainable high-speed rail plans.
With just 38% of the UK’s rail network currently using electric trains, making the switch to electric trains is the obvious way to become more sustainable. However, according to Instarmac, provider of rail refurbishment solutions, there are a number of other ways rail providers can aid in the fight against climate change.
Efficient driving training
With the cost of switching the entire fleet to electric proving prohibitive for most rail companies, a number of diesel trains remain on the tracks. Ensuring that these trains are being driven as efficiently as possible is a great way to limit energy usage – and could do so by as much as ten per cent.
Incentivising drivers to accelerate as efficiently as possible (by taking their foot off the accelerator sooner when slowing down or travelling downhill), turn the train off while idling (particularly at each station over the course of a long journey) and skip gears where possible could help significantly reduce fuel wastage.
Investing in regenerative braking
Working in tandem with efficient driving practices, investing in green technologies like regenerative brakes would enable rail travel to become more sustainable.
Dynamic braking is the current standard for trains, converting the train’s kinetic energy into waste heat. Regenerative brakes, alternatively, reverse the electric motor current, using the energy generated to power the trains. The energy created by regenerative brakes does not need to be limited to the train that created it – it can be accessed and used by other trains on the grid.
Offering customer perks
Another way to make rail travel as efficient as possible is by ensuring train capacity is maximised wherever possible. Investing in the overall customer experience, or offering additional perks, would be a great way to encourage travellers to choose train transport.
Free Wi-Fi is fairly standard now, but other perks, such as cashback or monetary rewards, could help encourage British travellers to make their journey by train. Some train operators are offering pre-ordered food services so customers can enjoy food delivered to their seats. All of these options would make train travel a more lucrative option for those who aren’t already convinced by rail travel’s sustainability.
Offsetting carbon emissions
Ultimately, however, trains will continue to contribute to carbon emissions, regardless of how they operate. By investing in carbon credits that support sustainability projects, the wider industry can offset any remaining CO2 output by contributing to schemes that have a positive effect on the world’s carbon footprint.
National Rail is one of the operators leading the way in this regard; they are supporting a £1m scheme that will see 80,000 new trees planted to reduce their emissions. Initiatives like Carbon Neutral Britain can facilitate rail operators to support sustainable projects and offset their carbon emissions. These schemes can take many forms, from promoting renewable energy schemes around the UK to forest preservation initiatives.
So, although electrifying the UK’s train network won’t take place overnight, UK train operators should be working in tandem to make sure their existing trains are as efficient as possible.
In working to make rail travel as attractive as possible, ensuring maximum occupancy while investing in driver training and renewable technologies that can be used to increase the efficiency of existing trains, today’s train companies can begin taking the next steps towards carbon neutrality.
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