19 September 2011
Sustainable development can help reduce rail industry costs
Sustainable development isn’t just a vision for a green future; it can also drive out
unnecessary cost and improve performance. This is one of the key messages coming
from the rail industry’s shared approach to sustainable development in dealing with
short and long term challenges.
Published today, The Rail Industry Sustainable Development Report 2011, outlines the
rail industry’s shared progress on sustainable development, which has been refined
and, in some cases quantified, for the first time.
A rail journey already produces far less carbon dioxide per kilometre for each passenger
or tonne of freight carried. Rail produces less than half of a car, less than a quarter of a
heavy goods vehicle, and less than a third of a domestic passenger flight, and less than
two per cent of a domestic freight flight’s carbon.
The report stresses rail’s well-recognised, characteristic green credentials but, rather
than being a distraction from pressing economic needs, it shows that rail’s principles for
sustainable development can actually provide a blueprint for reducing costs in an
industry which has positive environmental features and an exciting part to play in an
integrated transport system.
The report highlights the role played by rail in providing
the country with a ready-made system to transport people and freight to support
economic recovery, and also that there are initiatives that can lower rail’s own costs and
carbon together.
The report, which has been compiled by RSSB on behalf of the industry, is being sent to
all Members of Parliament and transport correspondents throughout the media, and
throughout the industry itself.
RSSB Block 2 Angel Square 1 Torrens Street London EC1V 1NY
Telephone: +44 (0)20 3142 5300 Facsimile: +44 (0)20 3142 5301 www.rssb.co.uk
Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited Registered Office: Block 2 Angel Square 1 Torrens Street London EC1V 1NY Registered in England No. 04655675
Commenting on the report, RSSB chief executive and chair of the industry steering
group, Len Porter said: ‘An urgent challenge for rail is to reduce cost, but sustainable
development is more than an economic challenge and we must ensure that we take a
more holistic view to deliver the long term benefits industry is seeking to achieve.’
He went on: ‘The rail industry knows that it is a fundamental part of the solution to a
sustainable, low-carbon, integrated transport system. This longer term objective will
require us to deliver the growth to respond to increasing demand whilst balancing this
with the need to reduce costs and carbon, to achieve a more sustainable railway.’
The Sustainable Development Steering Group, which asked RSSB to compile the
report, comprises Network Rail, train and freight operating companies, rolling stock
leasing companies, suppliers, as well as the Department for Transport, the Office of Rail
Regulation, Transport for London, Transport Scotland and RSSB itself.
The report can be downloaded from the RSSB website at:
http://www.rssb.co.uk/NP/SRP/Pages/RailIndustrySustainableDevelopmentReport2011.
aspx
-EndsFor further information, please contact:
RSSB press office
Tel 020 3142 5332 / 5331 or email pressoffice@rssb.co.uk or visit www.rssb.co.uk
1. The Sustainable Rail Programme (SRP) has been established to support the industry in reaching
its full potential in sustainable development. The railway has a key role to play in contributing to
an integrated national transport system, providing a sustainable transport solution that minimises
environmental impacts and contributes to social inclusion and economic prosperity. The SRP
focuses on areas where collaboration across the industry or with government is required to
address issues or take initiatives forward.
RSSB Block 2 Angel Square 1 Torrens Street London EC1V 1NY
Telephone: +44 (0)20 3142 5300 Facsimile: +44 (0)20 3142 5301 www.rssb.co.uk
Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited Registered Office: Block 2 Angel Square 1 Torrens Street London EC1V 1NY Registered in England No. 04655675
The SRP supports industry to:
Build shared understanding
Understand global SD policy framework
Facilitate cross-industry discussion
Develop industry strategy
Measure performance
Support implementation
Influence policy and legislation
2. The SRP is run as a cross-industry programme by RSSB on behalf of the rail industry. It is
steered by the Sustainable Development Steering Group, which comprises Network Rail, train
and freight operating companies, rolling stock leasing companies, suppliers, as well as
Department for Transport, the Office of Rail Regulation, Transport for London, Transport Scotland
and RSSB itself.
3. The rail industry asked RSSB to produce the publication ‘The Rail Industry Sustainable
Development Report 2011’ as part of the SRP, to document the rail industry’s position in
reflecting its Sustainable Development Principles alongside other Key Performance Indicators
(KPIs), ahead of the publication of the Initial Industry Plan (IIP). It was put together by RSSB’s inhouse sustainable development specialists, alongside a group of sustainability experts and
representatives from across the industry. A commentary was provided by Forum for the Future.
4. RSSB builds industry-wide consensus and facilitates the resolution of difficult cross-industry
issues. It provides knowledge, analysis, a substantial level of technical expertise and powerful
information and risk management tools. This delivers a unique mix to the industry across a whole
range of subject areas – with the aim of:
Where reasonably practicable, continuously improving the level of safety in the rail
industry
Driving out unnecessary cost
Improving business performance
RSSB Block 2 Angel Square 1 Torrens Street London EC1V 1NY
Telephone: +44 (0)20 3142 5300 Facsimile: +44 (0)20 3142 5301 www.rssb.co.uk
Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited Registered Office: Block 2 Angel Square 1 Torrens Street London EC1V 1NY Registered in England No. 04655675