Under the new strategy, HS1 Ltd says that it will employ a combination of wind and solar power for all energy used to power trains, buildings and other additional infrastructure.

HS1 Ltd says the use of Renewable Electricity Guarantee of Origin (REGO) certificates acquired from its energy supplier, Npower Business Solutions, will enable the railway to report the level of renewable energy employed to power its trains and stations and measure progress in achieving its target.

The railway also aims to reduce its overall energy usage by 10% over the next decade, including for traction and other electrical systems onboard its services, and for the energy used by other property held by the company, such as stations.

In addition, HS1 Ltd says that it will work with its international operator, Eurostar, and domestic operator London and South Eastern Railway (LSER), to reduce the carbon footprint of every passenger by 25%.

Biodiversity

HS1 Ltd has also outlined plans to eliminate its use of landfill sites for non-hazardous waste from regular operations and projects by 2022, and recycle 90% of all waste produced from 2023.

In addition, the railway plans to achieve a ‘Biodiversity Net Gain’ by 2030, in which 136 sites of biodeversity covering 106km of track will be in a visibly better condition compared with the 2020 baseline. The 2020 baseline will be determined following the completion of the full survey in 2021, which will also identify the feasibility of the target.

In addition, the strategy outlines plans to increase HS1 Ltd’s overall social impact. Under the new strategy, the railway plans to contribute at least 700 hours of staff time per year to local communities and charity activities by the end of 2022. The company says it plans to report measurable social impacts delivered through these projects by the end of 2025.

HS1 Ltd says it will also establish of a new reporting scheme and framework to guarantee that all targets outlined in the strategy are met, and to maintain compliance with all current environmental regulations and initiatives. In addition, the railway plans to provide annual reports on the strategy’s progress to investors, partners and stakeholders to guarantee a high level of transparency.

“Environmental and social sustainability is critical to the future success of our business and the transport industry more widely, says Ms Dyan Crowther, CEO of HS1 Ltd. “Through our sustainability strategy we are helping consumers reduce their carbon footprint while still enjoying safe, fast and reliable travel at home and abroad. Our environmental and sustainability commitments will add to our continued success and allow us to lead the way in a green recovery for the transport sector post-Covid-19.”