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Environment & sustainability

We are committed to delivering a more sustainable way to operate our railway.

Our environment commitment

At Southern Railway, we are dedicated to a more sustainable future. We're implementing a variety of initiatives to reduce energy and water consumption, manage resources efficiently, and minimise waste. These actions help lower our environmental impact and support positive outcomes for local communities.

Southern has trained an enthusiastic team of employees to be Environmental Champions across our network. These Champions are our eyes and ears on the ground, looking and listening for any environmental issues and communicating good practice to their colleagues.

We will go beyond the minimum required of us by following our 4 guiding principles with a commitment to:

  • Biodiversity and natural capital

    Prevent pollution and protect natural capital to enhance the ecological value of our sites

  • Water efficiency and leak reduction

    Respond to water leaks and reduce wasted water

  • Waste management and resource use

    Maximise the value of resources to minimise waste and reduce the impact it has on the environment

  • Climate change resilience

    Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate related impacts and incorporate climate change specifications into policy

Environment & Energy Policy

Environment & sustainability goals

We prioritise environmental and energy concerns in all our decision-making processes. Guided by our Environment & Energy Policy, we’re continuously working to reduce our impact. Using science-based targets to guide our carbon reduction efforts we are aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050.

Environmental impact monitoring dataset

ISO Certifications

  • ISO 14001: Certification for Environmental Management
    Ensuring that we meet compliance obligations and improve environmental performance.
  • ISO 50001: Certification for Energy Management
    Helping us track energy usage and consumption across our stations, offices, and depots.

All non-traction electricity used across Southern Railway is provided through a green energy tariff supplied by SSE.

Recent environmental achievements

  • Solar Power at Streatham Hill: In collaboration with Energy Garden, we installed 526 solar panels at our Streatham Hill depot. These panels are expected to save 884 tonnes of CO2 and generate 4.17 million kWh of clean electricity over 20 years.
    Future plans:     The success of the Streatham Hill project will extend to other depots, including Bedford, Three Bridges, and Selhurst.
  • Biodiversity and habitat management: We’re committed to enhancing biodiversity on the land we manage. In partnership with local wildlife trusts, we’re working to create or improve 100 'homes for nature' across our estate, from bug hotels to wild gardens.

View our impact reports

Person sitting on a train reading a book

By choosing to take the train instead of driving, you can significantly reduce carbon emissions. On average:

  • A train journey produces nearly 5 times fewer emissions than driving a car *
  • Switching from car to train could save enough carbon to power your phone for up to 8 years **
  • Choosing the train over a car is like saving the carbon emissions from boiling a kettle 455 times **

* a person travelling in an average car produces 0.167kg CO2e per km (based on the average emissions of all cars on the road of various car types and engines including diesel, petrol and electric), while National Rail trains on average produce 0.035kg CO2e per passenger per km. This means the average car is 4.7 times (nearly 5 times) more polluting

**The average train journey is 37.3km, emitting 1.32kg CO2e per journey. Making this journey by the average car emits 4.14kg CO2e per passenger per km (based on all cars on the road of various car types and engines including diesel, petrol and electric). This saves 2.82kg CO2e which is equivalent to the emissions in the energy needed to power your phone for eight years or to boiling 455 cups of water in a kettle.

Carbon emission savings

Taking the train is up to 12 times better for the environment than driving. Comparing train and car emissions for journeys to London from various stations, we see significant savings in carbon emissions:

  • Bedford: 4.4 times fewer emissions
  • Brighton: 7.4 times fewer emissions
  • East Croydon: 7.5 times fewer emissions
  • Gatwick Airport: 9.4 times fewer emissions
  • Hove: 12 times fewer emissions
  • Huntingdon: 4.2 times fewer emissions
  • Peterborough: 3.5 times fewer emissions
  • South Croydon: 5 times fewer emissions
  • St Albans: 5.4 times fewer emissions
  • Stevenage: 8.7 times fewer emissions

Decarbonisation and net zero by 2050 using science-based targets

Decarbonisation and Net Zero by 2050

Southern Railway is committed to decarbonising its operations in partnership with Network Rail. We are aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050 and have set out clear steps to reach this goal.

Our Net Zero Strategy:

Science-based targets

We have established science-based targets (SBTs) to guide our carbon reduction efforts, ensuring alignment with global and national climate goals, such as the Paris Agreement and the UK’s commitment to net zero by 2050.

By FY2029, we aim to reduce:

  • 42% of Scope 1 and 2 emissions (direct and indirect emissions)
  • 24% of Scope 3 emissions (from suppliers and the use of our products)

These targets drive innovation and help us manage climate-related risks while reducing costs and enhancing operational efficiency.

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The Living Coast

Southern is proud to support The Living Coast as a member of the Brighton & Lewes Downs Biosphere Partnership. The Living Coast is recognised by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Region based on its mission to pioneer a positive future by connecting people and nature in this world-class environment of Downs, Towns and Coast. Everyone is encouraged to play a part to ‘Follow Your Better Nature’.