Go-Ahead

Transport is responsible for one third of UK GHG emissions with the private car accounting for around 60% of this. In contrast, buses and trains together account for only 5%. Therefore switching people out of cars to other modes of transport delivers real carbon savings.

Managing our environmental impact

Our main environmental impacts come from the emissions associated with our vehicles. We also use energy in our stations, depots, garages and offices. As a Group, we have environmental and energy policies which explain our issues and set out our approach to managing them. Internal energy targets are set for each of our operating companies and energy performance indicators are reviewed at monthly operating company board meetings.

We are the first UK public transport company to be officially certified with the Carbon Trust Standard after taking action on climate change. The Carbon Trust Standard is an independent certification recognising achievements in action on climate change by leading organisations in industry, commerce and the public sector.

Investing in new technology

We believe that innovation and technology will be the key to tackling climate change. To reduce emissions from our fleet, we invest in the most efficient vehicles available. Our vehicle purchasing policy specifies that all new vehicles should comply with the latest European emissions standards.

We have also invested in new ‘black box’ technology across all of our fleet of 3,500, to monitor driving techniques, and supported this with training our nearly 9,000 drivers in more efficient driving techniques. Results have been encouraging with fuel efficiency improving by around 5%. This technology and training has also seen a reduction in the number of accidents through more defensive driving techniques.
 

We undertake rigorous emissions testing and maintenance schedules, and seek to use cleaner fuel. At present, we use Ultra Low Sulphur (ULS) Diesel, considered to be more environmentally friendly than standard fuels, across our fleets. We have adopted a bio-fuel mix of 95% ULS Diesel and 5% bio-diesel mix. We are also proactive in exploring future ‘cleaner’ fuel options.

Reducing train electricity consumption

Our train companies work closely with Network Rail and the rest of the industry to find ways of improving environmental performance.

Southeastern and Southern have been working alongside Network Rail to introduce regenerative braking. This system transfers the energy generated through braking back into the rail system, to power other trains. Thanks to the system, Southern has seen a 5% reduction in electricity traction consumption on its network, which adds up to around 10,740 CO₂ tonnes. In addition coasting boards and eco driver training will help to further reduce energy consumption.

Southern is targeting an approximate 15% reduction in traction energy as a result of regenerative breaking.

Energy saving and recycling in our depots, stations and offices
As part of our wider commitment to good environmental management, we seek to reduce our energy consumption and recycle as far as possible. As well as issuing a Group-wide energy policy we set stretching targets for each of our operating companies to reduce energy usage in its buildings.

We will also be seeking to reduce our water consumption in 2009/10.

Sharing best practice

We believe we can improve our performance by sharing best practice across our operating companies and working in partnership with organisations outside of the Group. The Group regularly holds Energy Forums where 'Energy Champions' and senior managers from each of our businesses attend to share best practice and help develop Group wide standards.

We work closely with experts such as the Carbon Trust. We are also a member of Green500, a London Development Agency initiative which works with organisations with the greatest carbon saving potential to help set a global standard in environmental excellence.

We are the only public transport company to sit on the Council of the Low CVP (Carbon Vehicle Partnership), a government funded partnership with industry to accelerate the move to low carbon vehicles and fuels, and have recently joined the London Mayor’s Electric Vehicle Partnership.

Go-Ahead is a member of Greener Journeys, a campaign to raise awareness of the role buses and coaches can play in helping the Government deliver its carbon reduction targets by giving people a real alternative to private car use.