Long-distance train operator CrossCountry has unveiled its 2025 Sustainability Strategy—a bold 10-year vision to make rail travel more inclusive, resilient, and low-carbon.
A key highlight of the strategy is the approval of CrossCountry’s science-based targets by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). These targets commit the company to reducing its direct emissions (Scope 1 and 2*) by 63% by 2035, marking a significant step toward achieving net zero.
The strategy is structured around three core pillars—People, Places, and Planet—and is supported by 11 action-oriented modules that identify where CrossCountry can make the greatest impact:
- People: Fostering a diverse, inclusive workforce and improving accessibility across the rail network.
- Places: Enhancing community wellbeing through cleaner air, habitat restoration, and climate-resilient services.
- Planet: Minimising carbon emissions, waste, and water usage to reduce the environmental footprint of operations.
Jessica Lockwood, CrossCountry’s Environment & Sustainability Manager, emphasised the strategy’s alignment with stakeholder priorities:
“This strategy reflects the issues that matter most to our colleagues, customers and stakeholders.”
“Aligning our operations with the latest climate science - while embedding social value and resilience into everything we do - means we’re building a railway that’s fit for the future.”
Thomas Raynor, Head of Strategy at CrossCountry, added:
“Our 2025 Sustainability Strategy is a commitment to long-term change. It’s about making rail the natural choice for greener long-distance travel across Great Britain, while creating lasting value for the communities we serve. This is a strategy built not just for today, but for the next decade and beyond.”
CrossCountry’s mission extends beyond operating trains—it’s about championing regeneration, inclusion, and innovation. The 2025 Sustainability Strategy sets a clear direction for a decade of meaningful progress.
You can read and download the full strategy at: https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/about-us/sustainability-strategy
Image credit: CrossCountry
