According to the Department for Transport (DfT), trains are one of the least emissions-intensive modes of passenger transport[1]. However, it’s important to note that these calculations predominantly focus on ‘direct emissions’ – the physical burning of petrol or diesel and the related greenhouse gases.
Too little focus is given to the ‘indirect emissions’ from transport, which are best defined as those related to all other aspects, from manufacturing and construction to maintenance of infrastructure, as well as emissions across the sector’s incredibly complex supply chains. Indirect emissions are hugely difficult to quantify, as they can emanate from a wide variety of sources, but they are no less crucial in the UK’s journey towards net zero.
In positive news, the UK is doing rather well at decarbonising direct emissions from trains, which only account for around 1-2% of the UK’s total transport emissions[2]. Where we now need real focus is in decarbonising the materials, manufacturing, maintenance and other fringe operations needed for trains to run effectively.