Introduction Rail is embarking on transformation. The UK Government’s Plan for Rail (2021) calls for a long-term strategy, which will set a clear and unified direction for the railway for the next 30 years, shaped by five strategic objectives: • Meeting customers’ needs • Delivering financial sustainability • Contributing to long-term economic growth • Contributing to levelling up and connectivity • Delivering environmental sustainability. Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT) is currently formulating the required strategy; we refer to it in this document as the ‘long-term strategy for rail’. The rail transformation programme, of which GBRTT is a core part, will fundamentally enable the delivery of this Blueprint. The Government has set out key policy ambitions and commitments for the sustainable development of our railways. The policies set timetables for action in many areas, including air quality compliance by 2030, biodiversity net gain by 2035, removing diesel-only trains from the network by 2040, and net zero carbon rail by 2050. Scottish government is committed to removing diesel-only trains from the network by 2035, and achieving net zero by 2045. The Rail Environment Policy Statement set a clear direction for the rail industry on environmental sustainability and policy priorities for the development of a comprehensive environment plan that will “establish rail as the backbone of a cleaner future transport system”, as set out in the Plan for Rail2 . The Blueprint has been co-created by the whole industry. The Government have asked RSSB to lead the development of this Blueprint and to create it in collaboration with the whole rail industry. The Blueprint provides an industry-led framework as input to GBRTT’s long-term strategy for rail, and builds on the Rail Environment Policy Statement priorities. It’s rail’s first industry-wide sustainability blueprint, providing a whole-industry view as far as 2050. It highlights policy commitments, aligns with existing organisational strategies and recognises variations in national policy. Prepared with input from colleagues in Wales and Scotland as well as in England, the Blueprint offers guidance to maximise the benefits of rail while eliminating or minimising the negative impacts. Although it is for Ministers in the devolved administrations to set the strategy for the railway in Scotland and Wales, it is intended that the Blueprint can provide further direction and consistency where it might be useful, particularly where operations cross borders. But the Blueprint doesn’t present all the answers: some of the subjects in this current version will be developed further. As progress is made, the Blueprint will be updated on an ongoing basis. The Blueprint is vital to realising sustainable rail. There is a strong, overarching case for sustainability initiatives in rail. Realising a more sustainable rail industry will require investment, alongside the integration of sustainability into business processes and securing mechanisms, such as passenger service contracts and track access agreements. For a successful transformation, we need to drive system-wide awareness and change. The Blueprint provides a single voice and a common framework to align industry efforts and inspire change. However, it is important to recognise that what the industry can achieve will be determined by funding, resourcing and leadership commitment. The initiatives proposed throughout the document will be progressed where possible, but some may need to be progressed at a later date than proposed. The Blueprint presents the industry’s view on ‘what’ needs to be achieved, ‘how’ to deliver it and ‘who’ needs to make a contribution: • The ‘What’: The Blueprint sets out 11 sustainable rail topics, across emissions, natural environment and social sustainability • The ‘How’: The Blueprint presents 6 common solutions, identified as the primary enablers of sustainable rail • The ‘Who’: The Blueprint explores the key roles played across the industry in delivering sustainable rai
