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Category: Environment

Creating new homes for our endangered furry friends

We’re making new homes for the endangered hazel dormice in Devon. It’s part of our commitment to protecting the environment around the railway. An endangered species The railway isn’t just home to infrastructure like track and stations. The vast lands surrounding the railway are important habitats for plants and animals. One of which is the … Continued

Using artificial intelligence to help our furry neighbours

Our railway is home to a variety of plant and animals, including the rare and elusive dormice. Find out how we’re using innovative methods to help our small and furry neighbours.  Hazel dormice are known to live along the edge of certain stretches of railway, mainly in south England and along the Welsh border. The … Continued

Tackling vegetation management with artificial intelligence

We’re always looking to improve and innovate the way we manage the railway for you. Take a look at how we did this recently using artificial intelligence. Overgrown vegetation next to the railway can be a challenge. Vegetation like trees and fallen leaves can be dangerous to trains and cause train delays. It’s also expensive … Continued

Bats: our flying commuters

Did you know the railway is a commuting route for bats? Bats follow the landscape using sound rather than sight at night. They navigate their routes by using sound waves to understand the distance and size of surrounding objects. Roads and motorways are often too wide and brightly lit for bats who do not like to … Continued

Our Low-Emission Railway

How is the railway becoming even greener? The railway is already one of the greenest forms of travel. But did you know we’re working hard to make it even more environmentally friendly? Watch this video to find out how we’re becoming more sustainable: Our vision to serve Britain with the cleanest, greenest mass transport We … Continued

European Mobility Week

Choose a greener journey this European Mobility Week and travel by rail. Did you know rail is one of the greenest forms of transport and that every train journey you take makes a difference to the environment? For decades, rail has consistently produced by far the lowest total million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e). … Continued

Resurgence of Welsh rail freight  

Better ‘slate’ than never – we have begun transporting North Welsh slate to Luton, England, via rail for the first time ever. We have worked with Welsh Government and Breedon Group to make slate rail freight transport possible. Our teams were able to reopen Llandudno Junction freight yard to begin moving freight thanks to this … Continued

Soil Moisture Deficit on the railway

Recent extreme temperatures have presented many challenges for the railway – the latest addition: Soil Moisture Deficit (SMD) Summer on the railway can bring extremely hot temperatures. These extreme temperatures pose a problem for the clay soil that our railway is built on – particularly in the Southern Region on the West of England Main … Continued

New solar power agreement for a greener railway

We have signed a solar power agreement with EDF Renewables UK to make the railway cleaner and greener We want to make the railway cleaner and greener for you and the environment. That’s why we have made another stride towards our goal of a more sustainable railway for Britain by teaming up with EDF Renewables … Continued

Together we can end domestic abuse