ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

"Rail freight can be an important part of the solutions to environmental problems, especially used as an integral part of sustainable economic development strategies."
Transport 2000

Rail freight protects our environment, our health and saves lives. The Government's own highly conservative figures show that in the next ten years rail freight could deliver environmental benefits worth well over £4 billion. Figures consistent with European studies value the environmental benefits at more than £5 billion.

A typical freight train can remove 50 HGVs from our roads. Over the past 6 years alone rail freight is estimated to have saved two million tonnes of pollutants, 6.4 billion lorry kilometres and 31.5 million lorry journeys.

Rail freight cleans up the air we breath. Compared with carrying the same tonnage by road, rail produces less than one tenth of the carbon monoxide; around one twentieth of the nitrogen oxide; less than 9% of the fine particulates and around 10% of the volatile organic compounds.

Rail freight can secure safer roads. Although accounting for only 6% of vehicle kilometres travelled, lorries are involved in 17% of road deaths. Rail freight can save lives by cutting the number of lorry journeys on our roads. Since 1997, rail freight has led to 644 fewer deaths and serious injuries on Britain's roads.

Rail freight helps protect our countryside. Rail freight takes around 7 million tonnes of freight off the roads in Britain's National Parks every year. This is vital to safeguard sensitive environments and the welfare of local communities.

Rail freight combats global warming. Every tonne of freight carried by rail produces at least 80% less carbon dioxide than by road. At present nearly 40% of carbon dioxide emissions from road transport come from lorries and buses.