Train operator, Greater Anglia, has launched a new online ‘green hub’ which includes a new carbon calculator to help travellers see how much they could help the planet by switching from car to train. The hub at greateranglia.co.uk/GreenerAnglia offers information about why it’s more sustainable to travel by rail and lets people calculate the environmental impact of different transport modes, showing them how much they can reduce their CO2 emissions by travelling by train. According to the Department for Transport*, road transport is the biggest driver of CO2 emissions in the UK. In 2019, domestic transport was responsible for emitting 122 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). This means transport is the largest emitting sector of greenhouse gas emissions, producing 27% of the UK’s total emissions in 2019. Of this, the majority – 91% – came from road transport vehicles. Rail, however, accounts for just 1.4% of transport emissions despite representing 10% of all journeys – and the industry has a target to become net zero by 2050. Greater Anglia’s Managing Director, Jamie Burles, said, “We want to help people build back better as we emerge from the pandemic and get life moving again. Our green hub is available to provide people with all the information they need if they are interested in living more sustainably and playing their part in tackling climate change. “The railway in East Anglia can lead the green recovery from the pandemic by being a much greener way to travel – and our new fleet of trains will contribute even more thanks to their more environmentally friendly features which reduce CO2 and particulate emissions in the region further still and offer a convenient, comfortable alternative to the car.” The carbon calculator reveals that for most journeys, going by car emits four times more CO2e than going by train, so big reductions can be made. For example:
- A journey from Norwich to London Liverpool Street saves 28.14 kg of CO2e (equivalent to powering a house for 32 hours)
- A journey from Cambridge to Norwich saves 12.95 kg of CO2e (equivalent to boiling 185 kettles)
- A journey from Ipswich to Lowestoft saves 8.74kg of CO2e (equivalent to 90 hours of TV)
- A journey from Colchester to Clacton-On-Sea saves 3 kg of CO2e (equivalent to boiling 42 kettles)
- A journey from Bishop’s Stortford to Tottenham Hale saves 4.84 kg of CO2e (equivalent to powering a house for 7 hours)
- A journey from Southend Victoria to London Liverpool Street saves 7.68 kg of CO2e (equivalent to boiling 109 kettles)
Greater Anglia has joined the rest of the rail industry in pledging to make stations across Britain more sustainable. Action to reduce waste, support local wildlife and cut the carbon footprint of railway stations will be informed by the industry’s new Sustainable Stations: Best Practice Guide, which details ways in which train operators can meet this commitment in support of global goals of decarbonisation, reducing waste and supporting local plant and animal life. The document will also be used by train companies when agreeing future contracts. Face covering compliance is high on trains and stations and Greater Anglia is asking people to follow the Government’s recommendation and keep on wearing them when it’s busy. As more people return to rail, Greater Anglia is seeing some trains and stations getting busier. Customers are encouraged to use the full length of trains and platforms and check the operator’s ‘Less Busy Trains tool’ at greateranglia.co.uk to opt for a quieter train. Trains are well ventilated either by air conditioning which replaces air inside the train every six to nine minutes or by open windows. Doors also open at every station. Greater Anglia is also continuing with enhanced cleaning and sanitisation of trains and stations. Full details of the revised timetable and measures Greater Anglia is taking to keep people safe are available from www.greateranglia.co.uk