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Join us on A Better Journey
We’re ensuring every trip is a little bit greener
Welcome onboard our most important journey yet
We think travelling by train is amazing. Every day, we bring together families and friends, connect cities along the East Coast Mainline and provide vital transport links that enable business and communities to thrive.
Our ambition is to be the most responsible way to travel for generations to come. That’s why we’re working hard to embed sustainability, equality and just practices into everything we do.
Driving rail towards net-zero
Rail plays a critical role in the UK's low‑carbon future. By embracing new technologies, making smart, well‑timed investments and improving the energy efficiency of our stations and offices, we’re taking practical, measurable steps toward a cleaner network. To learn more about our Decarbonisation Strategy click here.
Climate change continues to shape our world and adaptation to this is crucial to our business so we can continue to deliver a high-quality rail service and enable low carbon travel across the UK.
Responsible Business at LNER
We are learning to grow our business without increasing our impact. From creating a great place for people to work, to reducing our emissions and waste, and contributing to the communities we serve; our responsible business work is about putting long-term sustainability at the heart of everything we do.
To help us drive positive change, we have created three areas of focus. If something does not serve these wider objectives, then as a business it’s our responsibility to question how we can improve. Better for people, Better for places and Better for planet provides a framework for change.
Better for People
We want to attract, retain and develop truly world-class talent, as we know our people are fundamental to our success. We recognise that fostering a safe, diverse and inclusive culture where everyone feels a sense of belonging is key to enabling them to thrive. We are also committed to making sure every customer has the best possible experience when they travel with us.
Better for Places
There is a special bond between LNER and each of the communities we serve. Whether we’re sourcing products locally, investing in infrastructure, providing meaningful training for young people or funding charitable programmes, we are committed to supporting the prosperity of the incredible places on our route.
Better for Planet
We’re reducing our impact on the environment and driving urgent action towards net zero carbon emissions by 2045. We’re committed to protecting our natural resources with industry-leading initiatives to minimise waste, increase circular systems and make every aspect of our business as efficient as possible.
Better for People
We want to attract, retain and develop truly world-class talent, as we know our people are fundamental to our success. We recognise that fostering a safe, diverse and inclusive culture where everyone feels a sense of belonging is key to enabling them to thrive. We are also committed to making sure every customer has the best possible experience when they travel with us.
Better for Places
There is a special bond between LNER and each of the communities we serve. Whether we’re sourcing products locally, investing in infrastructure, providing meaningful training for young people or funding charitable programmes, we are committed to supporting the prosperity of the incredible places on our route.
Better for Planet
We’re reducing our impact on the environment and driving urgent action towards net zero carbon emissions by 2045. We’re committed to protecting our natural resources with industry-leading initiatives to minimise waste, increase circular systems and make every aspect of our business as efficient as possible.
Responsible Business Report 2024 - 2025
Every year we publish a Responsible Business Report with the results of our ongoing commitments to do things better for our people, our places and our planet.
Find out how we’ve been putting sustainability at the heart of our business – reducing our emissions and waste, contributing to the communities we serve and building a great place to work for our people in the latest edition.
Giving back to the communities we serve
Our Customer and Community Investment Fund (CCIF) works to support charities and causes that do amazing work along our route. It provides vital funding for small and medium sized projects that deliver positive impact to issues that are important to us. These include; mental health, education and employability skills amongst marginalised groups, diversity and inclusion, and environmental sustainability.
Together for Pride
Inclusion is a priority here at LNER for us that means creating a culture where everyone feels able to be their authentic selves and their uniqueness is accepted and celebrated. We also love making our trains stand out from the crowd which is why, to celebrate Pride in 2023, we unveiled a colourful new liveried Azuma called 'Together'. As it runs along the breadth of our route, it's a physical symbol of solidarity and allyship with our LGBTQIA+ colleagues, customers, and communities.
The ‘Our Planet’ Train
2024 saw the launch of the progressive ‘Our Planet’ train along our East Coast Mainline route. It’s the first UK train with livery applied using a partially bio-based material. Introduced on World Car Free Day it highlights our dedication to sustainable travel.
Calculate my carbon footprint for train, plane and car travel
On an average journey our Azuma trains produce 15 less carbon emissions than flying and 7 times less than driving. Our Carbon Calculator tool helps you understand your impact when travelling with us vs taking the car or a plane.
All you have to do is enter your start and destination details or simply tell us how many miles you may want to go. We’ll then show you the environmental impact for plane, car or train.
The calculations are based on:
Car: emissions from an average car (unknown fuel) of 0.339 kgCO2e/mile, including full well-to-tank emissions. Average car occupancy of 1.5 (based on the DfT National Travel Survey), giving emissions per passenger mile of 0.224 kgCO2e/passenger.mile
Train: average emissions from the LNER fleet in 2023/24 of 0.0325 kgCO2e/passenger.mile, including full well-to-tank emissions
Plane: average emissions from a domestic flight, including radiative forcing, of 0.493 kgCO2e/passenger.mile, including full well-to-tank emissions
Car and plane conversion factors are taken from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greenhouse-gas-reporting-conversion-factors-2024 . The train conversion factor is taken from LNER’s 2023/24 greenhouse gas emissions. Comparisons will only be valid for journeys on the LNER route.
Our reports
Our responsible business reports showcases how LNER delivers on sustainability, community support and ethical practices. Helping to create a better journey for all.
Responsible Business Report 2024/25
View reportGender and Ethnicity Pay Gap Report 2025
View report
Social Value Report 2024
View report
Responsible Business Report 2023/24
View report
Responsible Business Report 2024/25
View reportGender and Ethnicity Pay Gap Report 2025
View reportSocial Value Report 2024
View reportResponsible Business Report 2023/24
View report
Responsible Business Report 2022/23
View reportResponsible Business Report 2021/22
View reportResponsible Business Report 2020/21
View report
Our policies
All of our policies and commitments are available for public viewing.
What we're measuring
Environmental data
Environmental data
Environmental data will be one rail period behind, due to reporting timeframes.
Understanding Our Environmental Data
We’re committed to being open about our environmental impact. The data we share here gives a snapshot of how we’re doing, and we update it regularly to track our progress. Environmental data will be one rail period behind, due to reporting timeframes.
The table above gives you the full picture of our environmental performance, with figures that may be refined as improved data becomes available or as we receive updates from sources that report less frequently.
At the end of the financial year, we conduct a comprehensive review and external audit to make sure everything is accurate and complete.
Environmental data definitions
Environmental data definitions
Accessibility
LNER is committed to providing clear and accurate information that everyone can access and understand.
Accessible versions of the information found on this webpage can be obtained on request via our Customer Service Centre either by email customers@lner.co.uk or call 0345 7225333 between 08:00 and 22:00 Monday to Sunday.
A better journey FAQs
Are train tickets recyclable?
Are train tickets recyclable?
Unfortunately, the magnetic slurry used within orange railway tickets to create the magnetic strip contains volatile and metallic components. This means they are incompatible with the general paper recycling process. These should be placed into the general waste at LNER locations where they will be sent for energy recovery.
We're continuing to look at more environmentally friendly solutions, such as eTicket’s and our new mobile app instead of a paper ticket.
Are trains good for the environment?
Are trains good for the environment?
When you need to travel doing it in the way that causes the least emissions is the most responsible way to travel. That is where trains have the advantage over other forms of transport which covers long distances, such as car or planes. Per passenger train travel causes fewer emissions than car or plane travel and therefore can be said to be good for the environment.
In 2019 LNER replaced its old fleet of diesel high speed trains (HST). These were designed in an era where line electrification was not available, and the importance of the environmental impacts was not widely understood. The replacement of the HST’s for our Azuma trains in 2019 enabled LNER to remove unnecessary diesel consumption across the line where an overhead electrical supply is available. This means that trains destined for destinations north of Edinburgh for the first time can run on electric mode from King’s Cross to Edinburgh and then switch to diesel to complete the remainder of the journey where electrification is not available. The carbon intensity of national grid electricity is continually reducing. This means that while we may not have reduced energy consumption through the switch from HST’s, we have transitioned to a cleaner energy source.
The UK government has a target to achieve Net Zero by 2050, the drive to this target will see a further reduction in grid electricity carbon intensity as lower and zero carbon energy sources come online (e.g. wind, solar, hydro, nuclear, biomass, anaerobic digestion).
Our new trains bring new technology. Our fleet of electric and bi-mode Azuma trains which incorporate regenerative braking. This means energy is captured through the braking process which otherwise would have been lost. Sensors within the train automatically place the carriages into low power mode when the train is idle, and no movement has been detected.
While trains have a lower carbon footprint than domestic flights and car travel, here at LNER we are working with internal and external stakeholders to continually improve the efficiency of our operations in terms of energy and running on time.
Are trains more environmentally friendly than planes?
Are trains more environmentally friendly than planes?
Rail is considered more environmentally friendly than air travel however the degree to which this is true vary depending on the length of journey, occupancy levels and energy source for each mode of transport.
While ground transport has utilised electricity as a supply source for many years, this is currently not possible for the aviation sector. Instead they are limited to carbon intensive aviation fuel, projects have commenced to reduce the environmental impact of this. In the rail industry there are two forms of energy utilised at present diesel and electricity.
Here at LNER we reduced our diesel consumption by 30% in 2019. In doing so we were able to reduce the carbon emissions of the business, equally trains which can utilise electricity are significantly cleaner in terms of emissions to the air. This is largely facilitated by national grid decarbonisation projects which is bringing online more renewable sources.
Further reading can be done here
Do trains cause pollution?
Do trains cause pollution?
Trains create pollution; however, it is important to note that on a passenger level rail is one of the lowest impact public transport methods, in addition the carbon footprint intensity of rail continues to decrease.
In 2019 LNER successfully retired the old fleet of diesel high speed trains in favour of modern electric and bi-mode Azuma trains. The enabled us to reduce carbon intensive diesel consumption by 30% compared to 2019.
Pollution comes from the diesel (used north of Edinburgh where electric trains cannot run) and electricity that the trains consume while moving along the East Coast mainline. Diesel releases the greatest amount of carbon, while the electricity we consume from the overhead line has a much lower carbon intensity. This is because the UK national grid is decarbonising. This is the removal of fossil fuel power stations in favour of low and zero carbon alternatives e.g. solar, wind, hydro, biomass and anaerobic digestion.
