Our approach to sustainability is defined by understanding our contribution to society, the economy, and the environment, and what is materially important to our colleagues, our customers, and our stakeholders. A key focus is to prioritise where our efforts can have the biggest positive impact to meet customer needs, levelling up and connectivity, delivering environmental, social, and financial sustainability across TPE operations.
Through this understanding we have developed our strategy in line with the rail industry sustainable development principles, RSSB Sustainable Rail Blueprint, and UK policy goals for greener transport and modal shift.
The structure of our strategy sets out our priority areas under four Pillars of Sustainability:
Carbon and air: this considers our carbon footprint, resilience to climate change and impact on local air quality.
Beyond carbon: this is focused on zero waste to landfill, embedding circular economy thinking into our operations; reducing disturbance and impact on water resources, whilst setting out our good for nature ambitions.
Our people: this takes forward our goals for a diverse and inclusive workforce that can reach its potential, whilst developing succession plans and competency frameworks through proactive career development opportunities.
Our customers and communities: this embeds an approach for ensuring an accessible train service, bringing communities to the heart of our thinking, and delivering on a positive contribution to society through positive social impact activities.
Medium to long term objectives with milestone targets are established within this strategy, which will be progressed via actions in our annual sustainable development plan to ensure continual improvement. Progress updates against our targets will be published within our annual sustainability report.
Our objectives and targets continue to be subject to review considering the prevailing changes to across the rail industry.
Did you know?
• We have set near-term Science-Based targets, which have been validated by the SBTi.
• Our carbon impact per kilometre travelled has improved by more than 19 per cent compared to baseline year of 2019/20.
• We are investing in our managed stations to improve energy efficiency of our estate.
• In 2023 we were recognised as a bronze carbon literate organisation and continue to support our employees to become carbon literate.
• We send zero general waste to landfill.
• Introduced free period products in staff office, mess rooms and depots to reduce risk of period poverty.
• Actively raise awareness of men’s men mental health through Andy’s Man Club.
• We were the first train operator to introduce social stories as a resource to support people with communication and learning needs.
• Improving accessibility for customers is a top priority with our customers and communities’ goals.
Below you will find a copy of our Sustainability Report, which summarises and highlights our achievements from last year against our four pillars of sustainability (Carbon and Air, Beyond Carbon, Our People and Our Customers and Communities).
Download our 2023-2024 Sustainability Report
Download our 2022-2023 Sustainability Report
Full details of our Sustainability policies can be found in the following PDF documents:
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