{"id":4966,"date":"2024-01-25T05:37:35","date_gmt":"2024-01-24T19:37:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=4966"},"modified":"2024-01-25T05:37:35","modified_gmt":"2024-01-24T19:37:35","slug":"uks-largest-train-operator-sets-out-roadmap-to-eradicate-carbon-footprint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=4966","title":{"rendered":"UK\u2019s largest train operator sets out roadmap to eradicate carbon footprint"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Environment experts at the UK\u2019s largest train operator, <a href=\"https:\/\/gtrailway.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR)<\/a>, have launched a roadmap of how they\u2019re doubling down on emissions to become carbon \u2018net zero\u2019 for all its energy needs by 2050.<\/p>\n<p>GTR\u2019s carbon footprint is already very small: electric trains are the most sustainable form of public transport and are used on more than 97 per cent of GTR\u2019s services. Most trains also regenerate energy when they brake and all the electricity supplied by Network Rail to power them already comes from a clean source.<\/p>\n<p>The Net Zero Strategy [<a href=\"https:\/\/resources.mynewsdesk.com\/image\/upload\/f_pdf,fl_attachment\/yt2jfzek5pa5dqhxcn9f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">download here<\/a>] aims to eradicate that footprint altogether by:<\/p>\n<p>working with Network Rail and government to replace what few diesel trains are in use, possibly by electrifying the last two sections of Southern Rail track or introducing battery-powered units<\/p>\n<p>replacing gas with air or ground source heat pumps or equivalent as a source of heating at train depots<\/p>\n<p>generating energy from more than 6,000 solar panels being installed on the rooftops of train depots in Bedford, London and Sussex in a partnership with not-for-profit Community Benefit Society Energy Garden (see case study below)<\/p>\n<p>changing air conditioning systems to limit the damaging impact caused by any loss of refrigerant into the atmosphere<\/p>\n<p>replacing fossil fuel equipment with zero carbon systems when it needs replacing, if not sooner<\/p>\n<p>continuing to source certified renewable electricity for its offices, depots and stations<\/p>\n<p>installing smart meters<\/p>\n<p>Jason Brooker, Head of Environment at GTR, said: \u201cWe\u2019re in the middle of a climate crisis and everyone has a job to do to minimise their carbon footprint.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur electric trains are already the most sustainable way to get around on public transport but as the UK\u2019s largest operator, we want our customers to know that we\u2019re committed to doing even more.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis raft of initiatives will cut our carbon footprint still further in the short to medium term and in the long-term help eradicate it altogether.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Case study:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/resources-prod.mynewsdesk.com\/image\/upload\/f_pdf,fl_attachment\/icnjyc4vhcs0v4cqyeef\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Click here to read about the first cooperative solar energy project on the UK rail network at Streatham Hill Train Depot and to download pictures<\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>Delivered in partnership with not-for-profit Community Benefit Society Energy Garden, the 576 panels generate local sources of renewable energy and funding for community development projects. funds community gardening schemes and a vital education programme for youngsters from deprived London boroughs.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>And\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mynewsdesk.com\/uk\/govia-thameslink-railway\/pressreleases\/bedford-depots-massive-solar-roof-helps-thameslink-on-way-to-a-carbon-net-zero-future-3294623\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">click here to read about the latest project at Bedford<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><em>Photo credit: GTR<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Environment experts at the UK\u2019s largest train operator, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), have launched a roadmap of how they\u2019re doubling down on emissions to become [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":4967,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[7,11],"class_list":["post-4966","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rail-news","tag-transport","tag-usa"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4966","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4966"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4966\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4967"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4966"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4966"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4966"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}