Abellio Greater Anglia sets out plans for a greener future

Abellio Greater Anglia, has demonstrated its commitment to a greener future by achieving ISO 14001 – the national accreditation for businesses that take a holistic and strategic approach to reducing their impact on the environment.

A number of significant changes to processes and culture are expected to reduce emissions and wastage across every aspect of the business, including:

• a robust Energy Management system (ISO 50001) which enables Abellio Greater Anglia to commit to reducing energy usage across stations, depots and trains, with a target to reduce electricity consumption by 1% in 2014. A reduction of 1% would save around 3,800,000 kWh of electricity, equivalent to the usage in 200 homes;

• ensuring that lights and other electrical appliances are turned off at stations and depots when not in use;

• installing smart meters at stations whenever rewiring or repairs are carried out so that staff can see energy usage and take actions to reduce it;

• disseminating information to staff about how to use the timers and thermostats correctly on heaters to prevent them being left on or operated inefficiently;

• reminding all drivers about their eco-driving training and installing energy meters on trains to help assess how energy is being used on the trains and where efficiencies can be made;

• repairing water leaks at stations. In 2013, repair works prevented more than 50 million litres of water from being wasted, the equivalent of two Olympic sized swimming pools.

• In addition, the company is committed to recycling as much of the waste left on trains and at stations as possible, with outstanding results last year. Abellio Greater Anglia disposes of 4,000 tonnes of waste annually. In 2012 Norwich station recycled 6% of its waste but by the end of 2013, the figure leapt to 97%! Similarly, Colchester’s recycling rate improved from 36% to 77% in the same period. Clacton-on-Sea station increased its recycling rate by 25% in 2013, joining Wood Street, Southend Victoria, Bruce Grove, Stansted Airport, London Liverpool Street and Thetford in recycling more than 50% of their waste. The company aims to improve upon this still further in the future and bring other stations up to the same standard.

Abellio Greater Anglia’s Environmental Systems Manager, Tom Abraham, said, “I am delighted that the actions we are taking through our environment and energy management system have earned us the ISO 14001 accreditation, demonstrating our commitment to reducing our impact on the environment and preserving the region’s railway as one of the most environmentally efficient forms of transport.”