Britain’s railways are already the most sustainable way to transport large numbers of people and goods. However, there is still room for improvement. The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail published last year identified the need for “a comprehensive environment plan that will establish rail as the backbone of a cleaner future transport system”.
The SRS will be that plan: the first industry-wide approach to sustainability, across environmental and social topics, which has been co-created with industry experts, led by RSSB.
This SRS Prototype is a vital stepping-stone toward a definitive, final strategy for sustainable rail. It sets out clear, strategic sustainability guidance and a framework for alignment across the rail industry, showing where action is required to deliver on policy and meet the expectations of society.
RSSB’s consultation, on behalf of the Sustainable Rail Executive, is open until July 15, 2022, seeking feedback from industry and sustainability experts on the Prototype, its priorities, implementation, and effectiveness. The finalized Sustainable Rail Strategy is expected to be published later in 2022 and will form a key input into Great British Railways Whole Industry Strategic Plan (WISP).
RSSB’s director of sustainable development, George Davies, said, “The Sustainable Rail Strategy (SRS) Prototype sets out clear and ambitious goals for the rail industry. It’s a detailed leadership plan for the sector to deliver on Government aspirations and what society expects a major industry like ours to be doing. Taking advice on the way forward is crucial to building consensus and corralling the action needed to convert the strategy into the operational railway.”
The SRS Prototype and consultation survey can be viewed on the RSSB website, here: https://www.rssb.co.uk/sustainability/sustainable-rail-strategy