Travelling by train produces almost two-and-a-half times less carbon than using an electric car making it a greener option for commuters, according to new data from the Rail Delivery Group.
Commuting by train has been shown to produce nine times less carbon than a diesel or petrol car and more than four times less carbon than a hybrid vehicle.
Commuters travel from all corners of the UK to get to work with popular journeys from London King’s Cross to York having the lowest carbon emissions per passenger compared with travelling alone by petrol or diesel car.
From Darlington to London King’s Cross, the train journey produces nearly 15 times less carbon than travelling by car while Ebbsfleet International in Kent to St Pancras International produces 14.41 times less carbon.
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The journey from Edinburgh to London is almost 20 times greener than taking a car
PA
Research from the Rail Delivery Group found that the journey from Edinburgh to London is almost 20 times greener than taking a car as it produces fewer CO2 emissions.
London Kings Cross to Newcastle is 13.5 times greener by train than a car while Ipswich to London Liverpool Street is almost 13 times more efficient for commuters than a car.
Jacqueline Starr, CEO of Rail Delivery Group, said: “We all have a responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint, and the data that we have published reveals that rail is the green choice for travel between our towns and cities.
“We know that businesses need accurate and reliable carbon emission data they can trust.”
The data forms part of the Green Travel Pledge which is the rail industry’s commitment to provide data on the carbon emissions of rail journeys.
The pledge is being spearheaded by the Rail Delivery Group to create a recognised industry benchmark for carbon emissions.
In June last year, the data from the rail group found that the equivalent journey from London King’s Cross Station to Edinburgh Waverley Station produced 12.5kg of carbon emissions per passenger by train, compared to 136.4 kg of emissions by car.
Starr added: “This is an important milestone but we want to do more. We want to help business travellers to make greener travel choices.
The group is currently developing a new rail carbon calculator which will data on the carbon emissions of all UK rail journeys at the point of sale.
Starr explained: “Having our data available through global and domestic travel management companies and online booking tools will enable more businesses to choose rail as their first choice for business travel and reduce their carbon footprint.”
Clive Wratten, CEO of the Business Travel Association, remarked how they have heard loud and clear from members and the business travel community that consistency in carbon measurement is imperative.
He said the pledge on behalf of the whole rail industry has the potential to provide clarity and a robust green message to all parts of business travel.
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The Green Travel Pledge is the rail industry’s commitment to provide data on the carbon emissions
PA
The pledge aims to help encourage businesses to shift away from car and plane journeys and to take business journeys by train.