Climate Change Data

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Biodiversity
• Climate Change
• Circular Economy
• Social Value

Environmental Achievements

• Launched a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) aiming to increase biodiversity on lineside and offset biodiversity loss.
• Published Network Rail Biodiversity Standard (NR/L2/ENV/122) for managing biodiversity.
• Implemented remote habitat sensing data for mapping habitats across the rail network.
• Completed a £300k biodiversity enhancement project near Glenfinnan Viaduct to compensate for biodiversity loss.
• Installed a bee bank in Ayrshire to support solitary bee species.
• Created 'Hedgehog Highways' at Lanark station and Muirend to allow hedgehogs safe passage.
• Collaborated with local raptor study groups to protect nesting hen harriers and kestrels during works.
• Constructed the railway's first 'beaver tunnel' to mitigate flooding and allow beaver passage.
• Implemented biodiversity enhancement measures during land remediation works at Fairlie.

Social Achievements

• Relaunched 'Our Green Code' to promote biodiversity and sustainability among colleagues.
• Organized environmental volunteering days for tree planting and habitat restoration.
• Engaged with stakeholders through events like 'Getting to know Network Rail' and the Scotland Drainage and Lineside Conference.
• Partnered with community groups for tree planting in Glasgow parks.
• Provided a £16,000 grant for the Allan Water Improvement Project.

Governance Achievements

• Published Scotland’s Railway Sustainability Policy and Strategy (2021-2024), aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Established strategic partnerships with Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) and Scottish Land and Estates.
• Developed an Ecology Pocket ID Guide for onsite personnel.
• Created a Scotland Sustainability Microsite as an internal resource hub.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Leaf fall on the line causing increased train braking distances.
• Potential conflicts between railway operations and biodiversity conservation (e.g., vegetation management near nesting birds).
• Impact of beavers on railway infrastructure (e.g., damming culverts, burrowing into embankments).
• Landslips damaging railway infrastructure and causing biodiversity loss.

Mitigation Strategies

• Trialed new lineside techniques for vegetation management at Dalgety Bay and West Highland Line, including biodiversity offsetting measures.
• Collaborated with local experts and organizations to minimize disruption to wildlife during works.
• Constructed a beaver tunnel to allow safe passage under the railway and prevent flooding.
• Implemented biodiversity enhancement measures during land remediation works at Fairlie.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Reuse of materials from works.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Landslips
• Flooding

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: UN Sustainable Development Goals

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Climate Ready
• Net Zero
• Environmental Management
• Biodiversity
• Social Value

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced operational (Scope 1 & 2) emissions by 65% against a 2018/19 baseline (target)

Social Achievements

• 25% increase in initiatives assessed with the Rail Social Value Tool (target)

Governance Achievements

• Not disclosed

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Adverse and extreme weather events impacting services, infrastructure vulnerability to flooding, landslip, extreme heat causing rail buckling, and extreme cold causing rail cracking.
• 78% of Scotland’s Railway’s emissions are outside of our direct control (Scope 3)

Mitigation Strategies

• Improving infrastructure resilience to weather extremes, developing long-term climate adaptation strategies, improving data accuracy on Scope 3 emissions, working with supply chain to reduce emissions, introducing circular economy principles, embedding whole-life carbon assessment in projects.

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Not disclosed

Responsible Procurement

• Embedding sustainability into supply chain through knowledge, engagement, collaboration, and innovation; developing menu based social value procurement instruments; producing a sustainable procurement charter.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Flooding, landslip, extreme heat, extreme cold

Transition Risks

• Regulatory changes, market shifts

Opportunities

• Decarbonisation of the network, energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy deployment

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI, RSSB’s Sustainable Rail Blueprint, Scotland’s Transport Strategy

Certifications: ISO 14001, ISO 50001

Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• Not disclosed

Not disclosed

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Not disclosed

Awards & Recognition

• Not disclosed