High speed rail has an “essential part to play” in the delivery of the UK’s net zero carbon target, according to a report from train manufacturer Alstom.
The report – The UK’s New Green Age: A Step Change in Transport Decarbonisation – describes High Speed 2 (HS2) as “central to modal shift, including providing an alternative to planes”.
It adds: “It is not going to be possible to achieve the modal shift needed unless there is sufficient capacity, and a reliable, quick service. HS2 is the path to that goal.”
According to the report, “significant gains” in carbon reduction have been seen in countries with high speed rail, such as Spain where it is key to travel between cities. Meanwhile, Eurostar services between the UK and Europe have removed the equivalent of 60,000 flights or 750,000t of carbon dioxide per year.
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International Trade Secretary Liz Truss today announced the government guarantee, which will support highly skilled jobs in Derbyshire as the UK builds back better in the aftermath of coronavirus.