RIA urges government action to decarbonise rail

Representing more than 300 organisations across the rail supply chain, the RIA has identified three steps it wants the government to bolster the low carbon rail network. According to the RIA, the goals of removing all diesel-only trains off the network by 2040 and achieving a fully net zero railway by 2050 will be missed based on current projections. The three key steps it has identified are:

• Immediately implement a rolling programme of cost-effective electrification on intensively-used lines
• Ramp-up fleet orders of low carbon rolling stock using new traction methods on less intensively-used parts of the network, including hydrogen and battery
• Government, Network Rail and other rail clients to work with suppliers so they never lose out for offering lower carbon solutions, but are incentivised to reduce emissions

“Rail already plays an important role when it comes to helping the government deliver its net zero targets, constituting a small part of the problem but a big part of the solution,” said RIA chief executive, Darren Caplan. “To take just one example, a single freight train removes up to 76 lorries from our roads, significantly cutting carbon emissions.

“Rail, however, has the potential to deliver even more with the right support from the government. The Railway Industry Association’s new campaign, RailDecarb23, aims to secure progress on three key asks, on electrification, new traction methods, including hydrogen and battery, and ensuring suppliers never lose out for offering lower carbon solutions. If the government can work with the railway industry to deliver on these asks, it would put UK rail back on track to reach net zero by 2050 – a target which is currently set to be missed.”

In terms of electrification, the UK lags far behind its European neighbours, with just 37 per cent lines electrified compared to 57 per cent on the continent. According to recent government figures, between 2020 and 2022, the number of electrified route kilometres actually fell by 7km, from 6,049 to 6,042. RailDecarb23 is urging the government to reverse that decline and massively ramp up electrification, as well as investigate new traction methods.

“By investing in a structured decarbonisation plan, the government would not only enable rail to play a fuller role in securing net zero, but would also give the supply sector the certainty it needs to plan ahead and deliver efficiently whilst creating jobs, investment and economic growth,” said Caplan.