Air quality monitoring carried out across Britain’s railway stations has found that conditions are generally good, with targeted improvements already under way where needed.
The findings come from the Air Quality Monitoring Network (AQMN), commissioned by the Department for Transport (DfT) and delivered by the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB). The programme provides transparent, reliable data on station air quality and is the largest systematic monitoring network on a mainline railway anywhere in the world.
Monitoring focused on around 100 stations where pollution levels could potentially be higher, identifying around 50 stations that would benefit from targeted air quality improvement plans. Operators and Network Rail have already begun implementing these measures.
Rail remains one of the lowest-emission transport modes, with government figures showing the sector accounts for just 4% of domestic transport nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution, while emissions have fallen 39% over the decade to 2023.
Rachael Everard, RSSB’s Director of Sustainable Development, said:
“Air quality matters; the air we breathe is important to our health and wellbeing and to passenger comfort. As an industry, we are committed to creating a railway that has a positive impact on local air quality.
“Our research is helping identify the minority of areas where air quality is an issue on our network. By proactively identifying these locations, rail can act and target improvements quickly. Out of more than 2,500 stations nationwide, 50 needed an air quality improvement plan, and operators are already putting those into practice.”
Industry action already underway
The AQMN has been designed to strengthen transparency and public confidence while helping the rail sector identify locations where improvements are required.
A range of actions are already being implemented across the network to address air quality challenges, including:
- Continued DfT funding for the monitoring network until 2030 and further passenger exposure research led by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
- Introducing newer, cleaner trains while phasing out older diesel fleets.
- Establishing an industry-wide idling focus group to reduce emissions from diesel trains left running in stations.
- Trials of start-stop engine technology to reduce unnecessary diesel use.
- Reviews of operational practices, timetables and dispatch procedures to minimise train idling.
- Improvements to station ventilation systems and trials of new technologies such as filter columns and pollution-reducing surfaces at locations including Salisbury and Birmingham New Street.
- Investigations into alternative power sources for activities such as train preparation and cold starts.
While the AQMN focuses on passenger environments within stations, worker exposure is assessed separately under different legal requirements.
The monitoring programme forms part of wider efforts by government and industry to further reduce the railway’s environmental impact while supporting the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable transport system.
