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32

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 of carbon

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. As well as its high carbon

footprint, emissions from the transport sector

also damage sensitive ecosystems, agriculture

and urban environments.

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.

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

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.

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.

No vehicles

over maxim

um

gross weight

shown

(in tonnes)

Parking

restricted to perm

it holders

No w

aiting

No stopping during period indicated except for buses

No stopping (C

learway)

No stopping during

times show

n except for as long

as necessary to set dow

n or pick up passengers

Sig

ns with b

lue circles but no

red b

ord

er mo

stly give

po

sitive instruction.

Ahead only

Turn left ahead Turn left

Keep left

Vehicles may

(right if symbol

(right if symbol

(right if symbol

pass either reversed)

reversed) reversed)

side to reach sam

e destination

Mini-roundabout

Route to be

Segregated

Minim

um speed

End of m

inimum

(roundabout

used by pedal pedal cycle

speed circulation - give

cycles only and pedestrian

way to vehicles

route from

the im

mediate right)

One-w

ay traffic (note: com

pare P

edestrian crossing

point over circular ‘A

head B

uses and Tram

s only tram

way

only’ sign)cycles only

With-flow

bus and C

ontra-flow bus lane

With-flow

pedal cycle lane cycle lane

109

Sharp deviation of route

to left (or right if

chevrons reversed)

Warning signs - continued

Frail (or blind or

disabled if shown)

pedestrians likely to

cross road ahead Pedestriansin road ahead

Traffic queueslikely ahead

Cycle routeahead

Zebracrossing

School crossing

patrol ahead(some signshave amber

lights which flash

when crossingsare in use)

Side winds Hump bridge Worded warningsign

Risk of ice

Risk ofgrounding

Light signalsahead at level

crossing, airfieldor bridge

Cattle Wild animals Wild horsesor ponies

Accompaniedhorses or

ponies

Quayside orriver bank

Available width of

headroom indicated

Overhead electric

cable; plateindicates

maximum height

of vehicles which

can pass safely

Soft vergesDistance over

which roadhumps extend

Miniature warning lights

at level crossings

Other danger;

plate indicatesnature ofdanger

33

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)

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.

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.

Flying fr

om London

to Manchester

emits

approxima

tely five ti

mes

more emiss

ions per

passenger

kilometre

than

a Pendolin

o train, an

d

2.5 times mor

e than a

private ca

r.

Source: Rail Safety & Standards Board

‘Traction Energy Metrics’ 2007

Fuel Sourcesit is in the interest of Virgin trains to find a

source of sustainable biofuel as an alternative to

oil given that the world’s supplies are predicted

to soon peak and decline3. in June 2007, Virgin

trains successfully ran the first ever scheduled

train on a biodiesel blend in the uK4. this was

part of a six month trial run in association with

Association of train Operating Companies

(AtOC)5 and railway Safety Standards Board

(rSSB)6, to test the use of biodiesel. the trial was

successful in that it showed that the train could

operate without impairing its performance. it

also demonstrated the potential to reduce CO2

emissions from train travel by 12%. Although the

trial was successful it will not be taken further

for the fleet of 21 Super Voyagers (diesel) trains,

until a source of commercially viable biofuels is

found that is both environmentally and socially

responsible.

Energy UseVirgin trains’ carbon footprint is highly dependent

on the trains’ design and the fuel that is used.

Although it was involved in the design of its

trains, fuel efficiency was only one of many

aspects considered. A major factor in improved

performance was the incorporation of tilting

technology which enables Virgin trains to operate

competitively against domestic air travel .

it’s possible to reduce the carbon footprint of

a train journey, simply by improving driving

behaviour. taking basic efficiency measures like

this is always a fundamental first step as they are

considerably more sustainable than buying new

energy efficient trains, developing alternative

fuels or overhauling existing infrastructure. Virgin

trains has recently introduced energy

metering and eco-driving which have the

potential to reduce traction energy use by

5-10% . Virgin trains seeks to be closely

involved in the development of the infrastructure

and technology of ‘new generation’ train designs.

Virgin trains has worked with the Carbon trust

on a co-funded project to understand and

reduce the carbon footprint of every aspect of its

business7 . the company’s growth plans mean

Virgin trains’ total carbon footprint will increase.

However, because of the measures introduced

with the help of the Carbon trust, the footprint

per passenger should decrease.

due to the current franchise model in the

uK, large-scale modification of existing fleets

presents enormous challenges. Making even

minor software adjustments to improve onboard

consumption of power can be an extremely

costly and lengthy process. Virgin trains has

however been successful in implementing a

range of modifications to its fleet to increase

energy efficiency. Virgin trains is:

• thefirstUKinter-citytrainoperatorto

introduce regenerative braking on the

Pendolino trains

• introducingasoftwareupgradeonthetrains’

onboard computers that enables all trains

to register and record energy usage which

can then be analysed to increase efficiencies

further

• embarkingonaPendolinolengtheningscheme

to increase passenger capacity which will in

turn increase energy efficiency per passenger

(a dft/Virgin project)

• reducingthedieselfuelconsumptionofSuper

Voyager trains by lowering the power output.

The use of tilt technology allows Virgin trains to travel over the main London to Glasgow route at high speeds on regular railway tracks. As a result, the reduced overall journey time competes very strongly against domestic airlines especially when factoring in the time saved by the train travelling directly into the city centre.

‘Traction energy’ is the energy that physically drives the train along as opposed to ‘hotel energy’ which is used for lighting, heating, air conditioning etc.

Conventional brakes convert the train’s kinetic energy into waste heat and noise, whereas regenerative brakes convert a proportion of energy into electrical energy which feeds back into the national grid. All 52 of its Pendolino (electric) trains have regenerative brakes which return 17% of the energy used to the grid.

Here is what our companies are doing to make

Getting from A to B more sustainable:

108

Distance to

‘STOP’ line

ahead

Crossroads Junction on

bend ahead

T-junction with

priority over

vehicles from

the right

Staggered

junction

Distance to

‘Give Way’

line ahead

Warning signs

Mostly triangular

Double bend first

to left (symbol

may be reversed)

Bend to right

(or left if symbol

reversed)

Roundabout Uneven road Plate below

some signs

Dual

carriagewayends

Roadnarrows on

both sides

Two-way traffic

straight aheadTwo-way

traffic crosses

one-way road

Road narrows on

right (left if

symbol reversed)

Traffic signals Slippery roadSteep hill

upwards

Gradients may be shown as a ratio i.e. 20% = 1:5

Steep hill

downwards

Traffic signals

not in use

The priority through route is indicated by the broader line.

Level crossing

with barrier or

gate ahead

Level crossing

without barrier

or gate ahead

Level crossing

without barrier

Tramscrossing

ahead

Opening or

swing bridge

ahead

Falling or

fallen rocksLow-flying aircraft

or sudden

aircraft noise

Tunnel ahead

Traffic merging

from left ahead

109

Sharp deviation of routeto left (or right if

chevrons reversed)

Warning signs - continued

Frail (or blind ordisabled if shown)

pedestrians likely tocross road ahead Pedestrians

in road ahead

Traffic queueslikely ahead

Cycle routeahead

Zebracrossing

School crossingpatrol ahead(some signshave amber

lights which flashwhen crossings

are in use)

Side winds Hump bridge Worded warningsign

Risk of ice

Risk ofgrounding

Light signalsahead at level

crossing, airfieldor bridge

Cattle Wild animals Wild horsesor ponies

Accompaniedhorses orponies

Quayside orriver bank

Available width ofheadroom indicated

Overhead electriccable; plateindicates

maximum heightof vehicles whichcan pass safely

Soft vergesDistance overwhich road

humps extend

Miniature warning lightsat level crossings

Other danger;plate indicates

nature ofdanger

34

3. For a definition of Peak Oil go to page 20

4. B20 – 20% bio-diesel, 80% ultra-low sulphur diesel

5. Association of train Operating Companies – AtOC (www.atoc.org)

6. railway Safety Standards Board – rSSB (www.rssb.co.uk)

7. the Carbon trust (www.carbontrust.co.uk)

Over the

year

each Pend

olino

train save

s

enough ene

rgy

to power o

ver

11,000 hom

es.

BikesVirgin trains will be one of the first flagship

Bike ‘n’ ride train companies in the country

following a £1 million funding deal with the

department for transport through its Cycling

England campaign . More than 500 additional

cycle parking spaces are to be shared between

Stafford, Stoke-on-trent, Macclesfield, Stockport

and Manchester Piccadilly train stations. Virgin

trains will also be supporting Manchester in its

development of a cycle hire scheme that will

allow commuters working in the city to complete

their journeys by bike. At Stoke-on-trent station,

where an old bookshop is being converted into

secure cycle storage, Virgin trains is working

closely with the local council on a scheme to

encourage passengers to travel to and from the

station by sustainable modes of transport.

Railway stationsthroughout the rail network, Virgin trains aims

to increase the number of people arriving at

stations by bus, bike or on foot, by focusing

on the development of an integrated transport

system. it is taking practical action, such as:

• integratingtraintimetableswithbusservices

• publishingwalkingroutes

• promotingtheuseofcyclingbyimproving

cycle parking and trialling cycle hire schemes

where possible.

Virgin trains has also started work on its stations:

• completingenergysurveysatallofits17

Virgin-managed stations so that it knows

where to focus to achieve maximum carbon

reductions

• improvingcontrolsonlightingandboiler

systems to increase efficiency

• settingatargettoreducestations’carbon

footprints by 4% by the end of its current

franchise (March 2012)

• lookingintogeneratingitsownenergyfrom

wind turbines in its multi-storey car parks.

WasteWaste is an issue both onboard trains and in

stations. Newspapers and magazines account for

the largest part of onboard waste by far, so this

is Virgin trains’ initial focus. it is segregating and

recycling newspapers and magazines on services

that terminate at a number of major stations .

there is also the potential to expand this to other

materials such as plastics and metals.

The Bike ‘n’ Ride project promotes sustainable travel for commuters and studentsbyencouragingbike-train-bikejourneys.

Virgin Trains target: It aims to reduce its ‘business as usual’emissions by 17,000 tonnes CO2 a year between now and the end of the franchise in 2012.

Virgin Trains has committed to ensuring that 100% of the newspapers and magazines on services terminating at its major stations can be recycled.

Train stations are allocated to different train operators to run (this allocation is based on a line of route and principal user concept). That is why Virgin Trains has many of the stations north of Rugby, where it is the main service provider.

109

Sharp deviation of route

to left (or right if

chevrons reversed)

Warning signs - continued

Frail (or blind or

disabled if shown)

pedestrians likely to

cross road ahead Pedestriansin road ahead

Traffic queueslikely ahead

Cycle routeahead

Zebracrossing

School crossing

patrol ahead(some signshave amber

lights which flash

when crossingsare in use)

Side winds Hump bridge Worded warningsign

Risk of ice

Risk ofgrounding

Light signalsahead at level

crossing, airfieldor bridge

Cattle Wild animals Wild horsesor ponies

Accompaniedhorses or

ponies

Quayside orriver bank

Available width of

headroom indicated

Overhead electric

cable; plateindicates

maximum height

of vehicles which

can pass safely

Soft vergesDistance over

which roadhumps extend

Miniature warning lights

at level crossings

Other danger;

plate indicatesnature ofdanger

Signs giving orders Signs with red circles are mostly prohibitive. Plates below signs qualify their message.

End of 20 mph zone

School crossing patrol

Maximum speed

National speed limit applies

Entry to 20 mph zone

Stop and Give way to Manually operated temporary No entry for give way traffic on STOP and GO signs vehicular traffic

major road

No overtaking

No motor vehicles

No buses (over 8

No cycling

passengerNo vehicles seats)

except bicycles being pushed

No No vehicles No vehicle or No vehicles No vehicles towed carrying combination of over over

caravans explosives vehicles over height shown width shown length shown

No right turn No left turn No U-turns

No goods vehiclesGive priority to over maximumvehicles from gross weight

opposite shown (in tonnes)direction except for loading

and unloading

Note: Although The Highway Code shows many of the signs commonly in use, a comprehensive explanation of our signing system is given in the Department’s booklet Know Your Traffic Signs, which is on sale at booksellers. The booklet also illustrates and explains the vast majority of signs the road user is likely to encounter. The signs illustrated in The Highway Code are not all drawn to the same scale. In Wales, bilingual versions of some signs are used including Welsh and English

versions of place names. Some older designs of signs may still be seen on the roads.

wind

turbines

bike

rid

e

bike

35

Social interventionsAffordability is vital in order to persuade people to use

public transport over cars and to ensure equality of

mobility. Virgin trains has led the industry in offering

value-for-money tickets and its advance tickets are the

fastest growing part of the business. it now sells over

400,000 heavily discounted tickets each month.

Virgin trains recognises that its responsibilities extend to

its supply chain and for this reason it was the first train

operator to move all its hot drinks and sugar to Fairtrade

suppliers. it is now introducing organic, responsibly-

farmed local produce. it has also written into its contract

with rail Gourmet (its food supplier) that it too is obliged

to reduce its energy use and packaging waste, move

towards recyclable onboard packaging and provide

healthy, seasonal products that are environmentally and

economically sustainable.

Virgin trains’ staff, customers and suppliers helped raise

funds for the Heaven’s Angels campaign, to put 60 health

workers on motorbikes, who reach over 19,000 people in

rural Kenya every month (read more about the Heaven’s

Angels in the unite section on page 75).

Virgin trains expects soon to achieve its target of raising

more than £200,000 for children and their families

affected by cancer, through its charity partnership with

CliC Sargent8.

Transport with a differencePublic transport is not always appropriate and for those

occasions there needs to be a variety of low carbon

options. Virgin limobikes, is a taxi company using

motorbikes in london that offers a low carbon,

speedier and fun alternative to conventional taxis

in the busy city . While not being as low carbon as

public transport, the bikes use less fuel than cars, do

not contribute to congestion, have no air-conditioning

or heating and spend far less time idling in traffic and

therefore have a lower impact on air pollution. Annual

rider training ensures efficient use of fuel.

Virgin Limobikes has seven bikes at the moment, which between them do around 65 trips per day, serving customers who often don’t have enough time to travel by public transport.

The Virgin VR01 is the first F1 car to be entirely designed using computer simulation tools thus negating the need for inefficient wind tunnels.

36

A virgin limobike

8. CliC Sargent (www.clicsargent.org.uk)

Gevo is developing new generation bio-based fuels and related products. www.gevo.com

You can read more about the Virgin Green Fund on page 49.

THE CARBOn GREEn PROCESS:

1. Uses pyrolysis10 to reduce the tyres to:

carbonaceous char, steel, and volatiles.

2. Converts the volatiles first to synthesis

gas and then burns that gas to produce

electricity for resale.

3. Upgrades the char to produce CBp, a

high-value commercial substitute for

carbon black, whose properties have been

proven to satisfy the demands of the

industry producing rubber products;

and

4. Offers clean operations that cause no

detrimental environmental impact.

(www.cbpcarbon.com)

Virgin Racing Virgin’s entry into Formula 1 naturally raises some

important environmental challenges. Our approach

has been to have a positive influence on the sport and

encourage the use of certified, sustainable biofuels, both

by increasing their use within the sport and by using it

as a test bed for mainstream industry. Virgin racing is

pleased that during the past 12 months the sport has made

a significant commitment to moving issues such as biofuels

and best practice further up the Formula 1 agenda.

Virgin racing has formed a partnership with Carbon Green

inc.9, which is Formula 1’s first ever green technology

sponsorship deal. Carbon Green takes discarded tyres,

which are an environmental hazard, and breaks them down

into 100% reusable products with much lower greenhouse

gas emissions .

At the moment the technical regulations in Formula 1

call for a minimum of 5.75% bio-components in the fuel

mix. Virgin racing hopes to see this amount increase

substantially over the next few years and indeed wishes

to be part of the process of driving biofuel development

forward. Sustainability issues surrounding the production

of biofuels have not yet been resolved and Virgin

racing believes the only way to ensure that negative

environmental and social impacts are avoided is through

third party certification. Virgin racing therefore supports

the roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels and pledges to

supply its biofuel from rSB compliant sources as soon as

possible .

the Virgin Group has already invested in a biofuel

company called Gevo via the Virgin Green Fund and one

of its first challenges will be to design a biofuel that meets

Formula 1 regulations while still performing as well as

current fuels .

The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) is an international initiative coordinated by the Energy

Center at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in

Lausanne that brings together farmers, companies,

non-governmental organisations, experts, governments,

and inter-governmental agencies concerned with

ensuring the sustainability of biofuels production and

processing (read more on the RSB on page 21 or on their

website at: www.rsb.org).

37

9. Carbon Green inc. (www.cbpcarbon.com)

10. Heating in the absence of oxygen