Network Rail are set to implement further accommodations to passengers with electric vehicles, as there will be more availability to charge their vehicles while they travel. 450 new electric vehicle charging points are set to be introduced across Network Rail-managed car parks at railway stations.
These charging points are powered through guaranteed renewable energy sources, which can provide enough power to fully charge a vehicle in just 3-4 hours. At the current phase of electric charging rollouts, Network Rail has powered: 160 charging points in Reading, 111 in Manchester, 84 in Edinburgh, 56 at Leeds and 41 in Welwyn Garden City. Current targets are to install as many as 779 charging points in car parks throughout the UK by March 2024.
The Rail sector has long been the leading form of environmentally friendly public transport and is integral to the UK Government’s ambitions to achieve net-zero by 2050. Further infrastructural investment such as this will go a long way towards the commitment to a low-emission railway, ensuring environmentally friendly services for years to come.
Jo Lewington, Network Rail’s Chief Environment & Sustainability Officer, said:
“As part of our wider Environmental Sustainability Strategy, we’re working towards delivering a low-emission railway and aiming to reach net-zero emissions by 2045 in Scotland and by 2050 in the rest of Britain.
“Supporting the move to electric vehicles is a key part of that. We hope that by providing affordable, efficient, and reliable charging points we can encourage more electric vehicles onto the road and help promote healthier air in and around our stations.”
Mark Tarry, Network Rail’s Supply Chain Operations Director, said:
“The Decarbonisation Programme Team continues to deliver Network Rail’s decarbonisation ambitions. The team are making a real difference putting passengers first and supporting the country's net zero ambitions.”
The new Compleo charging points are marked with green parking bays and passengers can pay for what they need quickly and easily via the APCOA Connect app.
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