Could the government's re-routed rail plans hamper the UK's net zero ambitions?

Michael Holder
clock • 6 min read
Passenger train passing through countryside near greater Manchester, England | Credit: iStock
Image:

Passenger train passing through countryside near greater Manchester, England | Credit: iStock

The government's £96bn Integrated Rail Plan has faced criticism from green groups and regional politicians, who fear it represents a major downgrade on previous proposals

If grumbling about trains is one of Britain's favourite pastimes, then fresh government plans unveiled this week have done little to dampen the activity, and have instead further stoked the ongoing debate...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Rail

'Real opportunity': Study explores potential to boost low carbon European holidays

'Real opportunity': Study explores potential to boost low carbon European holidays

Researchers publish toolkit highlighting how eco-friendly train travel across Europe could be made cheaper, easier, and more desirable

clock 07 October 2026 • 4 min read
UK's first major battery-electric train fleet to run across Pennines in 'landmark' £1bn deal

UK's first major battery-electric train fleet to run across Pennines in 'landmark' £1bn deal

Plans unveiled for £1bn investment to build new fleet of 29 battery-electric trains at Alstom's Derby facility, enabling smoother, quieter, faster, and greener travel across the Pennines

Michael Holder
clock 11 September 2026 • 3 min read
Government sets new target for rail to carry 40 per cent of UK freight by 2040

Government sets new target for rail to carry 40 per cent of UK freight by 2040

Great British Railways to oversee delivery of new rail freight growth goal, which government estimates could avoid one million tonnes of CO2 emissions from road transport

Michael Holder
clock 08 September 2026 • 3 min read