On 10 September 2025, the Railway Industry Association (RIA) gathered members and stakeholders in Leeds for its latest Environment and Sustainability Member Interest Group (MIG). The event brought together government representatives, industry leaders, and sustainability experts to discuss pressing challenges and opportunities for the rail sector. From procurement reforms to long-term decarbonisation strategies, the session underscored the importance of collaboration, innovation, and leadership in shaping a greener future for UK rail.
RIA’s member interest groups aim to meet at least three times a year. Focusing on specific policy and industry areas, including environment and sustainability, the groups have become indispensable forums for discussing industry trends, challenges, and opportunities.
Procurement reform
The first item of the meeting was a focus on the Procurement Act 2023, explained by Robert Vaughan, SME lead at the Department for Transport. The legislation introduces a series of reforms designed to make procurement more accessible and transparent, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Key changes include:
- A duty on authorities to consider SME barriers when tendering.
- Greater pre-market engagement to encourage innovation.
- The launch of a Central Digital Platform (CDP) consolidating all opportunities in one place.
- Mandatory 30-day payment terms across supply chains.
- The option to reserve lower-value contracts for SMEs, local, or UK suppliers.
Perhaps most significantly, the Act shifts the focus from the ‘Most Economically Advantageous Tender’ to the ‘Most Advantageous Tender’, ensuring that social value – including benefits for staff, communities, and the environment – is considered alongside price.
For SMEs, these reforms promise not only fairer access to contracts but also a greater role in delivering innovation and sustainability across the sector.
Supply chain sustainability
Neil Roberts, programme manager, contracts and procurement, Network Rail, presented an overview of Network Rail’s Sustainable Supply Chain Programme, highlighting key developments and expectations that will be important for all suppliers to understand and act upon.
RSSB’s Sustainable Rail Blueprint
Rachael Everard, Director of Sustainability at RSSB, presented an update on the Sustainable Rail Blueprint, the industry’s shared framework for embedding sustainability. While the blueprint has gained strong adoption and driven progress, several challenges remain:
- Sustainability is too often seen as a “nice-to-have” rather than a core priority.
- Data collection is fragmented, with inconsistent metrics and methodologies.
- Complex regulations and industry structures hinder innovation uptake.
- Supply chains face conflicting priorities that slow sustainability integration.
- Leadership commitment varies, limiting sector-wide momentum.
To overcome these barriers, the RSSB is focusing on embedding sustainability from the outset of projects, developing standardised metrics, encouraging technology adoption, and strengthening collaboration across supply chains. Leadership, awareness, and cultural change were identified as crucial enablers.
Looking ahead, these themes will be explored further at the RSSB Sustainable Rail Conference on 12 November 2025, which will feature senior industry voices and policymakers.
Evidence-led decarbonisation
Representatives from Transport for the North (TfN) outlined their evidence-driven approach to decarbonisation and resilience. As the first statutory sub-national transport body in England, TfN is playing a key role in shaping the future of northern rail.
Their Strategic Transport Plan, published in 2024, envisions a zero-emission, integrated transport system by 2050 that supports inclusive economic growth. Rail is central to this vision, with electrification and hydrogen mobility among the priorities.
TfN has also pioneered analytical tools to assess climate risk and resilience across the rail and road network. Findings show that while much of the infrastructure is resilient, flooding and extreme weather remain significant threats to connectivity. The next phase of work will extend this analysis to local roads, offering partners an automated framework for high-level vulnerability assessments.
Air quality and net zero
Closing the session, David Gray, head of Energy and Environment at Northern Rail, addressed the operator’s sustainability challenges and opportunities.
With over 500 stations, a diverse fleet, and more than 7,000 employees, Northern faces complex sustainability demands. A key challenge is air quality, particularly due to its large diesel fleet and limited electrification across the network. While bi-mode and battery-enabled trains offer medium-term improvements, near-term air quality issues remain.
On the path to net zero, Northern is focused on adopting new technologies and embedding circular economy practices to move towards a zero-waste railway. The company’s sustainability efforts align closely with the RSSB’s Sustainable Rail Blueprint, reflecting the growing convergence of operator and industry-wide goals.
A call to action
The Leeds meeting reinforced a simple but urgent message: sustainability in rail is no longer optional – it is essential. With government procurement reforms, new industry tools, and operator-led initiatives, the sector has the opportunity to accelerate decarbonisation, strengthen resilience, and deliver greater social value.
But achieving this vision will require more than frameworks and policies. It will demand leadership, collaboration, and a willingness to innovate. As the rail industry navigates a period of reform and investment, embedding sustainability at every level will be critical to securing a greener, more resilient future.
Lead image credit: iStockphoto.com / CHUNYIP WONG