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     RossRail Midlands Environmental Impact Reduction Strategy
Reducing our impact on the environment
The RossRail Midlands Environmental Impact Reduction Strategy
summary statement ~ monitoring reports 2003, 2004, 2005

Summary Statement
(the full document is available by post from the address at the bottom of the page)

     In March 2002, RossRail Midlands launched their Environmental Impact Reduction Strategy. Rail travel is the least polluting motorised transport mode, but still impacts adversely on the natural and built environment. We believe that investing now to reduce that impact will reap benefits in a better future for us all. Stage 1 of the plan is in progress, and nearly completed. Stage 2 is more comprehensive, and longer term in outlook.

     Stage 1 involves the following initiatives
     Stage 2 is longer term in outlook and includes
     It's a long journey, but in the end we will cement our position as the most environmentally friendly form of transport, and help you to feel good about choosing RossRail.

for RossRail Midlands, Birmingham, March 2002

Annual monitoring report, March 2003

     Hold us to our promises...

     RossRail has prided itself on revitalising rail travel in the Midlands and Northern England through an approach that doesn't do things by halves. It's no different to how we plan to reduce our impact on the environment. We set ourselves some tough challenges, and asked you to hold us to them.

     Installation of particulate filters, and use of biodiesel on our Sprinter trains, as well as engine modifications, have enabled them to be Euro 3 compliant on emissions levels. Older buses in the Midland Metro and yttra fleets which meet only Euro 2 levels are being phased out in 2004.

     The North Midland electrification has gone into planning - a scheme which will make The Midland InterCity services all electric and electrify a large part of the Nottingham suburban network. The scheme was previously on the back burner as we have more than enough trains to operate the existing service, but is not being pushed on environmental grounds in terms of reduced emissions in urban Nottingham and Sheffield, as well as the edge of the Peak District.

     Solar panels were integrated into all new station builds, including Hillmorton, where a network of solar panels are installed as shades in the car park, and the semi transparent solar roof at Sutton Coldfield's new station. Tyseley depot's roof was also covered in solar panels, and other operational buildings are to follow.

Annual monitoring report, March 2004

     The move to 100% biodiesel on our non-electric fleet has been completed, and all diesel powered trains, buses and operational vehicles now run on totally renewable fuels

     Some 10% of our electricity requirements are being met from renewable sources, predominantly our own generating capacity. All RossRail Midlands outdoor car parks now use solar powered lighting. In order to encourage regular travellers to consider leaving their cars at home and walking or using public transport to a station, season tickets whose conditions are set by us no longer include free car parking at paid car parks.

     synerga:connected living has begun work on "Dragonswell" in Milton Keynes, with reduced numbers of parking spaces, a car club and connection to transnet milton keynes' tram network. At Selly Oak in Birmingham, residents must share a car park with the rail station, there are no private spaces.


Annual monitoring report, March 2005

     The North Midland electrification is nearing completion, and from June we will have an all electric interCITY midland mainline network.

     Work is also underway on a sleeper service to Dublin on interCITY northbird. This will have around a third of the energy requirement per passenger of flying from Birmingham to Dublin.

     Nottingham Midland and the new Northampton Castle station are having solar panels integrated into their roofs.

     As we continue to electrify, the demand for biodiesel for directly powering trains will reduce. However, we are planning to offset this by building a biodiesel fired power station at Ratcliffe.

The full strategy and reports are available by post from our Derby office - Environmental Directorate, RossRail Midlands, Midland House, Nelson Street, DERBY DE1 2SA

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