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  • Clean Air

Clean Air

Making a positive impact on air quality

Air quality is recognised as a significant public health issue, with transport a major contributor to emissions. Overall rail emissions may be relatively minor, but these can be significant at a local level. Nationally, the contribution of rail to air pollution is relatively small when compared to other modes but may be significant at a local level.

The rail industry is working to reduce its adverse impact on air quality. Guidance and goals will be set out in the Sustainable Rail Blueprint to help industry collaborate and improve air quality.

Here we provide information to help you monitor, model and mitigate emissions and ensure efforts are targeted effectively.

Air Quality Topics

Sustainable Rail Blueprint
The Sustainable Rail Blueprint is the industry-wide strategy for sustainability. Learn what GB rail’s goals are for net zero carbon, as set out within the Blueprint.
Sustainability tools and resources
Helping organisations measure and improve their environmental performance
Air Quality Monitoring for the Rail Industry
Monitoring is considered as the first step in an air quality improvement campaign, as it is important to fully understand the existing air quality baseline before determining where and what mitigation measures need to be in place.
Air Quality Strategic Framework
Air Quality Strategic Framework, published in June 2020, is based on a robust, risk-based approach to reducing air quality impacts. The framework details a series of recommendations based around monitoring, modelling and mitigation.
Air Quality Mitigation Measures
RSSB’s research will help the rail industry identify the appropriate mitigation measures and ensure they are targeted in the right places.
Air Quality Emissions and Dispersion Modelling
Modelling provides useful insights on air quality, especially when supported by monitoring data. Modelling also allows future scenarios to be forecast as new rolling stock and traction technologies are introduced.
Air Quality Working Group
The Air Quality Working Group facilitates industry collaboration on the development and delivery of UK rail’s strategic framework to meet its air quality ambitions.
CLEAR Programme
See the research catalogue for our Clean Air Research Programme (CLEAR) projects. This incorporate robust research to measure air quality on the rail network and gain a better understanding of rail’s contribution to local pollution levels.
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Sustainability tools and services

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Sustainability tools and resources

Helping organisations measure and improve their environmental performance
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Rail consultancy: environmental and social sustainability

Rail is already the most sustainable mode of transport. However, we need to go further and faster as government policies and society’s expectations change, and other modes of transport catch up. Our rail consultancy services for environmental and social sustainability combine insights and expertise to provide independent support about these topics. We help you keep rail greener than other transport modes.
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Training courses

Our training courses reflects the knowledge and skills needs of the industry and is based on our rail expertise.
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Sustainable development case studies

Explore case studies that illustrate how rail sustainable development principles are being effectively implemented throughout the industry.
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Haven’t found what you’re looking for?
Get in touch with our expert for more information
Philbert Chan
Philbert Chan
Tel: 020 3142 5340
philbert.chan@rssb.co.uk
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