RSSB’s sustainability team has kicked off a new series of thought pieces to coincide with the United Nations climate change conference, COP26.
In the first piece, RSSB explains how it’s time to properly realise rail’s low carbon credentials and exploit them as part of a decarbonised, sustainable transport system.
The recent petrol and diesel supply issues reveal just how unprepared road transport is, according to rail body RSSB.
For all cars and vans to go electric by 2050, Britain would need 210,000 public chargers, as well as 3,500 rapid chargers near motorways. There are not yet any batteries that work for long distance HGVs, and overhead electrified ‘e-highways’ are at a very early trial stage. Air and shipping present even bigger challenges.
The publication of the Government’s Net Zero Strategy: Build Back Greener, made the commitment to a ‘sustained, long-term programme of investment’ in rail electrification, battery and hydrogen trains is reinforced. But the media attention on the plan for roads shows just how far other modes are playing catch up.
By comparison, a sustainable programme of electrification, guided by Network Rail’s Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy (TDNS) can happen cost-effectively and at pace, according to RSSB.
There is a genuine opportunity to shift freight from an over-reliance on roads and embed the railway as part of a low-carbon society.
According to RSSB, rail will still need to become a more obvious mode of choice to get the full benefits of decarbonisation. This means being responsive to fundamental changes in the world of work, and greener ways of living, all of which will require modernised ticketing, more capacity, and making it cleaner and greener to reach the station.
Link: https://www.rssb.co.uk/what-we-do/insights-and-news/blogs/sustainability-decarbonising-traction
