Eurostar, the high-speed passenger train service between London and Europe, has revealed new environmental strategies, which include a target of reducing its carbon dioxide(CO2) emissions by 25% per traveler journey by 2012.
Eurostar said it will cut CO2 emissions by reducing the power consumption on its rolling stock, making even better use of train capacity, and sourcing more electricity from lower emission generators.
In addition, Eurostar revealed that from November 2007, when Eurostar begins operating from London’s St Pancras station, it will become ‘carbon neutral’ by investing in offsetting schemes. Eurostar plans to work with a number of environmental organizations to deliver transparent, effective and appropriate offsetting schemes.
Richard Brown, chief executive, said: Unlike other transport operators, who ask passengers to volunteer to offset CO2 emissions at their own expense, we will bear the cost of making every journey carbon neutral, we will not charge a penny extra.
In addition to the CO2 reduction target, Eurostar has launched a 10-point plan to minimize the environmental impact of all its operations by cutting the consumption of raw materials, sourcing responsibly and recycling more waste.
Eurostar said published results for the first quarter, show a 14% increase in business passengers, while the number of leisure travelers buying connecting tickets for onward journeys to the south of France is up 39% compared with last year.