Net Zero Carbon Rail

What we’ve done 

In 2023, we launched our Pathway to Net Zero Strategy to help us understand where our carbon emissions are coming from and what we can do to reduce them to reach Net Zero by 2050. Through this work, we identified our key sources of carbon emissions, and we’re concentrating our efforts on the three largest contributors: Fleet, Buildings, and Supply Chain.  

So far, we have delivered a variety of projects to reduce carbon emissions from our building which has seen the introduction of solar panels at Lea Green and an air-source heat pump installation at our engineering site at Blackpool North. These projects have helped reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and increase renewable energy use. We’ve also strengthened the way we monitor and manage emissions, improving the accuracy of our carbon reporting and establishing clear governance. 

What’s next 

Over the next few years, we will be transforming our fleet of trains. This transformation will begin to see the phase out of older diesel-only trains, introducing multimodal units which can use electricity where there is infrastructure in place to do so, and revert to diesel where tracks are not electrified. Our first new units will enter service by 2029, and diesel withdrawal will continue through 2033. Improving energy efficiency in our legacy fleet and buildings whilst addressing carbon emitted during construction works through lifecycle carbon assessments are also key priorities. To stay aligned with industry best practice and ensure our strategy is still fit for purpose, we will be reviewing and updating our Pathway to Net Zero Strategy in 2026.