Gold environmental accolade for Network Rail sites
21 March 2024
Network Rail has been awarded a gold level of our National Award for Environmental Excellence®.
The accolade – which enables organisations to benchmark their environmental achievements and improvements - recognises the steps which Network Rail has put in place to minimise its impact on the environment at Scotland’s two busiest stations.
Central and Waverley were recognised for their commitment to monitoring litter levels and providing and servicing recycling and litter facilities throughout the stations, as well as their good public communication using social media to ensure customers were aware of environmental efforts.
Auditors were impressed with the use of smart meters for live usage rates for water and energy across Edinburgh Waverly Station. The commitment to making it easier for staff and passengers to link sustainable travel options, from providing cycle to work schemes for staff, to electric vehicle charging points in the car park to support passengers to safely store their bikes at the station were also areas commended following the assessment visit.
At Glasgow Central Station, which opened in 1879, the linking of a free shuttle bus for ticket holders between Central and Queen Street was highlighted, alongside the provision of electric buggies for those with mobility issues. The efforts to monitor and improve the management of energy was also highlighted having helped identify electricity use spikes and allow interventions to be put in place to reduce consumption.
Jamie Ormiston, our Senior Awards Officer, said: “It is wonderful to celebrate the achievements of Network Rail. Their efforts to build on environmental and sustainable practices at both Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central stations deserve to be recognised with this gold accreditation and we look forward to continuing our support of their long-term efforts.
“We’ve been working closely with businesses and organisations across Scotland, helping them to take direct action to improve their local environment. National Award for Environmental Excellence® provides an exciting opportunity to assess and recognise their efforts and support those who are starting to make meaningful environmental commitments.”
Chris King, Station Manager at Edinburgh Waverley, said: “The station plays a unique role in Scotland’s history and is vital to the country’s economic success, so it is with great pride that we have achieved the gold level National Award for Environmental Excellence® . We will continue to work with Keep Scotland Beautiful to make our impact on the environment as positive as possible.”
Drew Burns, Station Manager at Glasgow Central, said: “Glasgow Central is Scotland’s busiest station in Scotland’s biggest city and we’re delighted to have been recognised by Keep Scotland Beautiful in achieving the gold level National Award for Environmental Excellence® alongside our colleagues at Edinburgh Waverley. We are looking forward to continuing our relationship with Keep Scotland Beautiful over the coming years.”
Throughout Scotland, business locations, from shopping centres, leisure and cultural trusts to railway stations, tourism destinations and offices have been audited for a National Award for Environmental Excellence®.
