Facilitating the development of a 30 year SD industry strategy

Overview

Central to the SRP is the development of a robust vision that will allow the GB rail industry to maintain and build upon its strong sustainability credentials over the next three decades. Rail is currently one of the most sustainable forms of transport and it is the industry’s desire to improve its sustainability performance both to ensure that this remains the case, and to support the Government’s wider sustainability agenda for society as a whole.

Methodology

The plan for developing the vision consists of four consecutive stages, which are set out below:

Data gathering and background research

The first work stream was completed at the end of 2006. This phase has developed metrics for sustainable development and benchmarked the railway's performance against other modes (road and aviation) and selected European countries (Sweden, Germany and Italy). Performance measurement will enable the industry to set targets and drive performance improvement. For research output refer to T674: Developing metrics and benchmarking for sustainable development in the rail industry >> In addition, the first work stream has established a clear picture of the state of knowledge on sustainability issues through a comprehensive literature review and identified current and potential actions by each issue. For research output refer to T675: Review of research relating to sustainable development for the railway >>

Analysis

The second work stream is drawing to a close. A significant milestone was reached with the publication of the Case for Rail 2007>>. Building on the work from phase one, the Case for Rail 2007 outlines the key sustainability issues for the industry, the current level of performance and identifies the relative strengths and weaknesses which will enable the industry to capitalise on areas where it is better than other transport modes and direct attention to areas that need the greatest improvement.
In addition, Foresight Studies in SD>> was undertaken throughout 2007 to enable industry stakeholders to explore and gain a shared understanding of the future landscape in which the rail industry will operate and create a platform for the development of the rail industry sustainable development vision and strategy.
The project has seen the identification of the key drivers-of-change (social, technical, economic, environmental, political, organisational) that will impact upon the railway across the next 3 decades and the development of four potential scenarios of the future, through a series of interviews and workshops.

Vision Development & Refinement

The primary objective of the third work stream is to work with the industry leaders to draft and agree the sustainable development vision. The final phase of the Foresight Studies in SD>> has provided stakeholders with the opportunity to identify and analyse the strategic implications of the four potential scenarios of the future. Building on these future contexts, stakeholder discussions are underway to determine how the industry will need or want to develop over the long term.

The vision will promote the role of rail in contributing to a sustainable transport system, and position the industry to ensure it is well prepared for the future, by ensuring that currently good performance continues whilst any areas of weakness are managed and improved. It will also reflect the likely changes to the transport system as a whole and the role of rail within that system. The strategy will need to evolve, and as such, a further goal of the SRP is to facilitate its revision and modification over time.
To develop a vision that will see sustainability principals embedded throughout railway operations and service offering, the rail industry must ensure effective cross-industry working continues, which is able to align effectively the differing interests and objectives of multiple stakeholders involved in delivering a sustainable railway.

Implementation

The final work stream will support the industry in the implementation of the sustainable development strategy through the development of business cases for specific initiatives and modifying business incentives if required.