In our vision of the sustainable society of the future, people will need to be provided with the kind of affordable and convenient transport that we have become accustomed to as a fundamental part of our lifestyles. Two centuries
of economic growth have created corporate and social networks which span countries and continents, and transportation, alongside telecommunications, now
provides the backbone of social accessibility. Both are vital to the exchange of goods and services and, by allowing people to stay in touch, keep the wheels of international business turning.
Transportation is energy intensive and currently dependent on fossil fuels. Consequently it has a very high carbon footprint, currently it accounts for roughly 21% of global greenhouse gas emissions; a proportion which is projected to continue rising1
. The main contributor to this is
cars. In the UK within the transport sector cars and vans combined to contribute 45%2
dioxide emissions whereas trains currently account for 2% .
Transport is also very resource intensive, using a quarter of all commercial energy and half of all oil produced globally1
gns - continued
footprint, emissions from the transport sector also damage sensitive ecosystems, agriculture and urban environments.
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ash ngs
Frail (or blind or disabled if shown) pedestrians likely to cross road ahead
High levels of transportation can impact human health since emissions contribute to reduced air quality and increased stress caused by congestion and noise pollution. Increased mobility of the population in general has led to urban sprawl making the vulnerable and less mobile sectors of society physically and socially isolated.
Zebra crossing
Forecasts suggest that all areas of the transport sector will continue to grow considerably. Today there are 700 million cars in the world, a figure predicted to increase to around 1.5 billion in
Pedestrians in road ahead
. As well as its high carbon of carbon
10 years’ time. This would be devastating for both our climate and society, so we need to encourage people to move from private to public transport in order to curb the perpetual rise in transport related emissions.
Airlines are crucial for fast, long distance and international travel. However, we believe that short haul and domestic journeys should increasingly be covered by lower carbon options such as trains . Virgin Trains operates a fleet of 73 trains over the busy West Coast route of the UK, encompassing a number of major towns and cities.
Overhead electric cable; plate indicates
maximum height of vehicles which can pass safely
Public transport has the potential to reduce people’s use of private cars and reliance on domestic flying, but a variety of issues need to be considered if train travel is to become an alternative option for a greater proportion of the population . Trains need to be affordable for lower income families, fast and reliable for business commuters and integrated with other modes of transport such as local buses and cycle routes. Additionally, the environmental impact of train travel needs to be reduced by the ongoing development of fuel-efficient trains and low carbon fuels.
Transport sector emissions of carbon dioxide are forecast to increase by 92% between 1990 and 2020 .
Source: International Energy Agency 1998. World Energy Outlook. Paris, International Energy Agency/ Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
In the UK GHGs from transport industries rose by 47% between 1990 and 2002.
Source: UK National Statistics. Greenhouse gas emissions from transport. (http://www.statistics.gov. uk/downloads/theme_environment/ transport_report.pdf).
Flights between London and Liverpool have now ceased and trains are making important inroads into reducing the number of flights between London and Manchester and even Scotland.
1. Gorham. R. Air Pollution from ground transporta- tion. An assessment of causes, strategies and tactics, and proposed ac- tions for the international community. The Global Initiative on Transport Emissions. A Partnership of the United Nations and the World Bank, Division for Sustainable Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations. 2002. (http://www.un.org/esa/ gite/csd/gorham.pdf)
2. HM Treasury Annex 7.c Emissions from the trans- port sector (http://www. hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/ Transport_annex.pdf)
33
Mini-roundabout (roundabout
circulation - give way to vehicles from the
immediate right)
Route to be
used by pedal cycles only
Segregated pedal cycle
and pedestrian route
Minimum speed End of minim speed
Buses and cycles only
Trams only
Pedestrian crossing point over tramway
One-way traffic (note: compare circular ‘Ahead only’ sign)
With-flow bus and cycle lane
Contra-flow bus lane With-flow pedal cycle lane
Flying from London to Manchester emits approximately five times more emissions per passenger kilometre than a Pendolino train, and 2.5 times more than a private car.
Source: Rail Safety & Standards Board ‘Traction Energy Metrics’ 2007
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