Sustainable Mobility

UIC Leaflet 330

Rail offers sustainable transport solutions and UIC Leaflet 330 “Railway specific environmental performance indicators” enables the sector – as well as single railway companies – to demonstrate its environmental advantages towards other transport modes.

The UIC Leaflet 330 “Railway specific environmental performance indicators” has defined six key performance indicators for the rail sector on issues such as energy and climate, air pollution and noise. These indicators enable railways to monitor their environmental performance and to compare themselves to other modes of transport.

In addition the leaflet provides several supporting indicators and a stepwise approach-guide to the data collection.

The UIC environmental indicators leaflet is the result of coordinated effort during several years performed by experienced environmental rail experts and summarise important progress done within the environmental performance of railways.

Voluntary Guideline for Company Reporting

In 2011 the UIC developed a voluntary guideline for UIC members who had signed the UIC Declaration on Sustainable Mobility & Transport and who wished voluntarily to report to their stakeholders on the company’s progress in implementing the sustainability approach and commitments set out in the statements of the Declaration.

Following the first version, a Handbook launched in 2016 updates the Guidelines according to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 Standard based on experiences of the UIC members.

The Handbook enables UIC members in defining their key focus areas and priority issues according to strategies, action plans, main material issues and most relevant stakeholders.

The UIC Reporting Guideline supports the 18 statements included at the UIC Declaration on Sustainable Mobility and Transport supported by signatures of more than 50 UIC member companies.

Updating to an International Railway Solution (IRS)

As sustainability reporting has been rapidly evolving, leaflet 330 is now being updated and renewed. Combining with the guidelines set out in GRI G4 Indicators Handbook and broadening the scope to a more holistic modern sustainability agenda, a new IRS is under construction. The new IRS will support the SDG Rail Index tool, in setting out clear and harmonious ways that rail organisations can report and promote their sustainability credentials and contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

UIC International Sustainability Railway Awards

The International Sustainability Railway Awards (ISRA) are meant to recognize and honor the stakeholders and projects in the railway sector that are leading innovation in social, environmental and economic sustainability. The 2022 edition of the awards was held in Berlin, where the winners were announced during the gala award ceremony.

The posters of the winning projects, grouped per category, can be found below:

People

• Best Contribution to COVID Emergency: Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français – Medical TGVs Trains
• Best Diversity and Inclusion initiative: Network Rail & Shelter

Planet

• Best Circular Economy Project: Nederlandse Spoorwegen – Circular Modernisation
• Best Green Corridor: Network Rail – Biodiversity Monitoring
• Best use of zero-carbon technology: Indian Railways - Bina Solar Plants

Prosperity

• Best Multimodal Shift: Rete Ferroviaria Italiana – Stationland
• Best Climate Change project: Indian Railways – Electrification
• Rebuilding confidence in rail: Network Rail – King’s Cross Station

Global Rail Sustainability Report

UIC Contact

For any further information please Sustainability Unit.