Climate and the rail industry
The latest news about climate and the railway industry, including emissions, the impact of climate change, mitigation measures, infrastructure resilience and policy.
Scenarios developed to help the rail industry plan for climate change
UK: The Rail Safety & Standards Board has developed a standardised set of climate change scenarios to enable the industry to take a consistent approach to risk assessments, asset design and strategic planning.
Research identifies carbon emissions in the railway supply chain
UK: The Rail Safety & Standards Board has undertaken ‘groundbreaking’ research to identify causes of carbon emissions within the complex supply chain, which it says accounts for approximately half of the rail industry’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Eurostar to offer airline alliance sustainable rail connections
EUROPE: High speed train operator Eurostar has signed a memorandum of understanding to become the first non-airline partner of the SkyTeam aviation alliance.
Network Rail and Korea Railroad Research Institute to co-operate on infrastructure resilience
INTERNATIONAL: British infrastructure manager Network Rail and the Korea Railroad Research Institute have signed a memorandum of understanding to work together to improve the resilience of rail infrastructure to extreme weather.
Swapping one car journey for rail can make a difference
UK: The rail industry has teamed up with the Campaign for Better Transport to highlight how swapping one return car journey for a train can make a big difference when it comes to helping tackle climate change.
Infrastructure: Developing a rail resilience framework
Arup has developed a policy document aimed at helping the rail sector to reframe its approach to climate resilience by embracing ‘whole-system’ thinking. Co-author Juliet Mian explains to Nick Kingsley.
Scotland’s Railway publishes five-year Climate Action Plan
Comment: ‘Not cheaper, just easier’
Five electrified railway lines at risk from climate change
Danish train operator to buy solar power
CN launches fire-fighting trains to protect supply chains from wildfires
Playbook sets out SEPTA’s sustainability vision
Rail sector welcomes step towards emissions calculation standardisation
Norfolk Southern aims for low-carbon future
Comment: A long way from København
Japan: Rural railways struggle against a changing climate
Resilient Infrastructure: Protecting Japan’s national network from earthquakes
Electrification hopes sidelined in RSSB sustainability strategy
Network Rail to study composite sleeper profiles
Comment: Green credentials on the line
Carbon Literacy for Rail training course launched
Carbon calculator to show the impact of business travel by rail
Dawlish sea wall rebuild completed
Tram becomes rolling weather station