The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) is a major, multi-billion pound programme of improvements that will transform journey across the North. It will better connect towns and cities through more frequent, faster, greener trains between Manchester, Leeds and York, running on a better, cleaner, and more reliable railway.
As part of TRU’s unwavering commitment to sustainability, we are using BREEAM Infrastructure, an evidence-based sustainability assessment, rating, and awards scheme for civil engineering, infrastructure, landscaping, and public realm projects. Our goal is to achieve a BREEAM Infrastructure ‘Excellent’ Rating across the entire programme, as stated in TRU Sustainability Strategy named Our Guiding Compass.
Our Guiding Compass sets an ambitious approach to embed sustainability in how we design, build and operate this upgraded railway. We aim to implement best practices that minimise environmental impact while enhancing social value. Ensuring all projects meet high sustainability standards is paramount and using BREEAM Infrastructure as the overarching sustainability assessment methodology enables us to meticulously track and report on our environmental and social performance across a diverse set of sustainability topics.
To achieve our sustainability goals, we have undertaken numerous activities. Notably, the Leeds Station Capacity Project achieved a BREEAM Infrastructure ‘Excellent’ rating with a score of 78.8%, making it the first such achievement for Network Rail under the BREEAM Infrastructure V6 Whole Project Award (WPA). This project, which involved the creation of Platform 0 to increase capacity at the third busiest station in the UK (outside of London), was instrumental in reducing congestion and supporting TRU’s overarching aims of improving passenger journeys and reducing carbon emissions through electrification.
Our commitment to community engagement was reflected in our impressive 98% score in the ‘Communities and Stakeholders’ category. We developed strong partnerships with local schools and charities, including the Trussell Trust and St. George’s Crypt. Additionally, our high scores in the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) site visits underscore our dedication to encouraging best practices on respecting the community, caring for the environment, and valuing the workforce.
We also prioritised material reuse and recycling, donating Victorian-style canopy columns to the Bolton Heritage Railway for potential reuse and encouraging collaboration amongst contractors to enable material reuse on-site . Responsible sourcing was another key focus, with approximately 90% of track and overhead line equipment (OLE) materials sourced responsibly in accordance with sector-specific schemes (for example, BES 6001). Furthermore, we embraced emerging technologies, utilising electric mini-diggers and battery-powered tools to reduce carbon emissions during construction.
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Our stakeholders, including local communities, contractors, suppliers, and regulatory bodies, played a crucial role in achieving the success. Engaging with local communities through partnerships and community projects, collaborating with contractors and suppliers to ensure responsible sourcing and material reuse, and working with BRE Global Ltd to achieve the BREEAM Infrastructure rating were all integral to our approach.
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The outcomes have been significant. Improved passenger journeys and reduced congestion at Leeds Station have benefited over 20 million annual customers. Environmentally, the installation of overhead line equipment on Platform 0 and remodelling across other platforms supports the electrification of the route reducing carbon emissions and air quality impacts.
However, the journey was not without challenges. Navigating the transition from BREEAM Infrastructure (Pilot) to BREEAM Infrastructure Project Version 6 required adaptability and maintaining progress during the COVID-19 pandemic tested our resilience. These experiences underscored the importance of flexibility and strong community partnerships.
Looking ahead, we remain committed to striving for BREEAM Infrastructure ‘Excellent’ ratings across all TRU projects. We will continue to adapt and trial the use of various innovative technologies to further reduce our environmental impact and strengthen our community engagement efforts in future projects. We look forward to these efforts being rewarded through upcoming BREEAM Infrastructure Design and Construction stage assessments including projects around Greater Manchester and York.
