Big things are happening in the rail industry. Right now, the Green Revolution is well
underway, and it’s promising fantastic changes.
The electrification of the rail network is not only set to bring about a far more environmentally
friendly rail industry, it will also create a number of new jobs within the sector. Talk about a
win-win.
It’s a change that we’re incredibly excited to see. So, we’ve dedicated this article to exploring
the Green Revolution, the motions it will put in place, and what it will mean for the industry
as a whole.
What is the Green Revolution?
The UK Railway Industry Association (RIA) has launched a new campaign, aiming to
decarbonise the UK railway. The organisation is appealing the government to prioritise decarbonisation efforts. These
targets will depend on the use of hydrogen power and electricity. It comes alongside the recent COP26 discussions, which stressed the need for governments
across the world to respond with more urgency to the warnings of climate scientists.
The Green Revolution is being spearheaded by the RIA’s RailDecarb21 campaign.
What are the goals of the Green Revolution?
This bold campaign covers a number of key environmental points, including pushing the
government to:
● Deploy a railway electrification programme
● Build a sufficient stock of hydrogen and battery power resources
● Work harder to reach the ‘Net Zero by 2050’ target that was set for the UK rail sector
● Meet the targets of the UK government – namely, replacing all diesel-only trainswithin the UK rail network by 2040
According to the Chief Executive of the RIA (as quoted in the Global Railway Review):
“To do this, we need to begin now. With rail investment taking several years, and train
fleets having an average life of 30 years, the choices that we make this year will impact
whether we reach our targets in the coming decades.
“Every tonne of carbon saved today equates to 29 tonnes of carbon saved by 2050.”
The need to get things moving, without delay, is evident.
But, while the sense of urgency is pressing, it is an exciting time for the industry. This
common goal has fostered an environment of innovation, with companies across the sector
all striving to meet (and even beat) the ambitious targets set by the government.
At Triptex, we are proud to be helping construction workers within the rail sector upgrade the
technology in place; doing our bit towards achieving these Green Revolution goals.
If you would like to find out more about how we can assist your projects, speak to a member
of the Triptex team today.