To empower rail to fulfil its immense potential, the Railway Industry Association is urging the Government to adopt a three-point plan to accelerate rail decarbonisation:
1. Immediately implement a rolling programme of cost-effective electrification on intensively-used lines
38% of the UK rail network is electrified – much less than comparable European countries. Electrified railways have been shown to benefit passengers and the wider travelling public as they:
• Are better for the environment, with carbon emissions 60% lower than those from diesel trains today and 80% less with the estimated 2040 grid mix; they also produce no air pollutants at the point of use;
• Cost less in the long term when compared to the whole-life costs of diesel services;
• Improve journey times due to superior braking and acceleration;
• Reduce passenger delays, as electric trains are more reliable than diesel trains;
• Are quieter, reducing noise pollution for those living and working near the tracks and reducing noise and vibration for passengers;
• Are lighter, meaning less wear to the track and therefore less maintenance; and
• Are the only decarbonisation technology suitable for freight trains and faster passenger trains (above 100mph).
Electrification in the past has been delivered in peaks and troughs of work, providing the industry with a significant amount of work over a few years, followed by a ‘cliff-edge’ in activity. This has contributed to higher costs as the sector is unable to retain the skills and expertise. In contrast a consistent workload in Germany has supported much lower unit costs.
A rolling programme of electrification could reduce costs by up to 50% compared to some past problem projects, as demonstrated in RIA's Electrification Cost Challenge report.
2. 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
There are parts of the network where electrification will not be a cost-effective solution and where technologies like hydrogen and battery will have a role. The industry has demonstrated its ability to offer these new technologies, with a number of rail suppliers working on low carbon rolling stock solutions. However, despite the fact that immediate carbon reduction could be achieved, no significant fleet orders have been placed for these technologies.
Significant fleet orders of new rolling stock would stimulate a new industrial sector, creating and retaining jobs and intellectual property in the UK whilst accelerating the decarbonisation of the network and supporting future exports. There is an opportunity for UK rail to become a global leader in battery and hydrogen technologies, with rail demand helping to create the UK market necessary to stimulate growth and kick start the zero carbon economy.
3. 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.
Many suppliers have set out their own route to Net Zero and are actively innovating to reduce the carbon in the goods and services they supply. Clients such as Network Rail are supporting this by asking suppliers to ‘sign up’ to targets to reduce the 97% of Network Rail’s carbon emissions that fall within ‘scope three’, meaning that they largely come from third parties, including suppliers. Network Rail’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy includes a target for 75% of suppliers to have their own science-based targets by 2025.
This is positive, but it needs to be supported by specification and buying strategies that do not penalise low carbon solutions which are a little more expensive or new.
4. Planning for cost efficient delivery
Recognising the current fiscal challenges, RIA further recommends that there should be a cross-industry dialogue
to establish a plan that maximises carbon reduction and rail service benefits within the available funding. This
would aim to provide the industry with sufficient certainty to support investment decisions and a ramp up of
delivery capability to deliver a programme for net zero rail. This could include examination of market solutions for
financing the programme.
To stimulate this discussion, RIA will be developing further whole system proposals (including infrastructure and
rolling stock) for interventions needed to efficiently decarbonise.
By adopting RIA’s key decarbonisation asks, the Government will enable rail to play a fuller role in securing Net Zero, and also give the supply sector the certainty it needs to plan ahead and deliver efficiently whilst creating jobs, investment and economic growth.