Rail Infrastructure Sustainability Forum
31/01/2025
The Rail Infrastructure Sustainability Forum (RISF) aims to improve sustainability in rail infrastructure projects. The forum focuses on environmental and social sustainability. It helps member organisations, clients, and stakeholders in the rail sector. It brings together main contractors, rail infrastructure maintainers, and sector associations. RISF operates under its parent group, the Infrastructure Safety Leadership Group.
‘As interim chair, I am proud to hold the ropes and progress sustainability through the forum for the greater good of the rail industry, and beyond. As a member of the forum, I find it invaluable to get the opportunity to work with my counterparts in other Tier 1 organisations. We discuss the challenges and opportunities in sustainability and how to get the most out of limited resources. I intend to help communicate the forum’s outputs as well as support and encourage the group’s development.'
Scope
The RISF’s purpose is to share knowledge about sustainability in the rail industry. RISF aims to achieve environmental and social progress in priority areas to benefit the workforce, the supply chain, and communities. The forum covers all sustainability technical topics, including decarbonization, air quality, noise, natural value, climate change adaptation, social sustainability.
The forum seeks to:
- develop and coordinate a network to improve environmental management and social sustainability in the rail industry
- collaborate with rail organisations, sustainability groups, and partners to develop and implement sustainability objectives and standards
- develop and publish good practice guidance relevant to infrastructure contractor activities
- act as a formal group for stakeholder consultation
- establish the most efficient ways to deliver client expectations
- promote the adoption of sustainable development principles and practices by sharing best practice and lessons learned.
Membership
The RISF has members representing these industry stakeholders:
- core members: principal contractor and principal designer organisations (senior sustainability representatives)
- client members: rail client organisation representatives
- stakeholders and guests: RSSB sustainable development representative; representatives from associated industry, sister forums or sustainability working groups; invited guests.
Interim Chair: Angela Cruickshanks
Vice-Chair: Katherine Haigh
RSSB main representative: Livia Morarasu