A study undertaken by pan-European train comparison and booking
platform, Loco2, has revealed that 43 percent of people in the UK
who regularly travel by train would like to know how each train
is being powered, to enable them to make a more
environmentally-conscious decision that could reduce their carbon
footprint associated with train travel by up to 35%[i].
The study of regular train users was launched by the ‘low
co2’ travel company Loco2, in anticipation of the new hydrogen
trains coming to the UK in the early 2020s.
A petition has
been created to call for the Department for Transport and the
Rail Delivery Group to make it compulsory for all rail operators
to be transparent about what fuel powers their trains. This move
would ensure that consumers have the information they need to
make a choice as to which train to travel on, in the interest of
the environment. The request has also been submitted to the
Department for Transport’s Rail Review Team to consider, before
releasing their white paper next Autumn.
Cristina Astorri of Loco2 comments on the
campaign:
“We know that rail operators have the fuel data we are
asking for readily available, but it’s not in their interest to
share it - especially those who aren’t prioritising the planet
over making profit.
“The only barrier to train operators sharing this
information some might say, is that hybrid trains will run part
of the journey using one power source and will switch to another,
but this shouldn’t make any real difference because they know
when the power source switches. Typically, an electric train
emits 20-35% less carbon emissions than a diesel train – it’s a
massive difference.
“This campaign for change will not only make rail
operators share the data, but it will enable consumers to vote
with their feet by choosing to take ‘cleaner energy’ trains over
the older, polluting ones. If this shift in consumer behaviour is
great enough, train operators will be forced to improve the way
they power their trains in order to appeal to existing and new
customers.”
Craig Bennett, chief executive of environmental
charity Friends of the Earth, has signed the petition, he
said:
“There are so many journeys to be enjoyed by rail. As
well as the excitement of the destination, let’s make travel
itself an experience.
“A shift from air to rail is important to fight climate
change, but more can be done to make train travel sustainable. It
means making trains zero emissions and decarbonising the
network.
“Giving people more information about the journeys they
take means they can make greener choices about their travel too.
This campaign is forward-thinking in calling for change before
the new hydrogen trains - which could have a role to play
alongside electrification, if fossil fuels aren’t used for
production - are introduced into the UK.
“People will be able to see which rail operators
are the first to adopt new technologies and be able to apply
pressure to those who are slow to act.
“The UK invented railways - it’s right that we
make the next chapter of rail travel environmentally and user
friendly.”
Leading worldwide train expert and former
Department for Transport (DfT) rail ticketing executive, Mark
Smith (the Man in Seat 61), supports the call for change. He
said:
"Over the last few years I have seen more and more
people switch from short haul air to rail, saying they want to
avoid the budget airline experience and cut their carbon
footprint. So, a more accurate assessment of emissions caused by
a journey will become increasingly important when people choose
their mode, route and operator."
Interested rail passengers can sign and share the
petition at https://www.change.org/p/department-for-uk-train-operators-to-provide-information-about-how-each-timetabled-train-is-powered?recruiter=210312396&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition
