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<p>The Government is determined to reduce the impact of poor air quality on railway
users, workers, and neighbours. We know that air pollution in stations is an area
of particular concern. To better understand it the Department has funded air quality
monitoring studies at three large enclosed stations; Birmingham New Street, London
King’s Cross and Edinburgh Waverly. This research has highlighted that enclosed stations
can be high risk areas for poor air quality, due to idling diesel engines and poor
air flow and ventilation.</p><p>Following these findings, and given the importance
of the issue, the Department is now funding a new £4.5 million air quality monitoring
network.</p><p> </p><p>This will be rolled out over the next three years, with air
quality monitors installed in around 100 stations across England and Wales. Once established,
the network will help the rail industry identify priority locations where air quality
improvement measures are required. Responsible organisations will be required to produce
air quality improvement plans with the aim that levels of air pollutants meet the
targets we will set for PM2.5, PM10 and NO2.</p><p> </p><p>The government has committed
to a net zero railway by 2050, and set out an ambition to remove all diesel-only trains
from the rail network by 2040, which will reduce carbon emissions and improve air
quality. To achieve immediate carbon savings and air quality improvements, some rail
operators are exploring the use of biofuels and sustainable alternative fuels. We
recognise the potential value of sustainably sourced biofuels as a transitional technology,
where their use is technically feasible and makes commercial and environmental sense.
As part of Decarbonising transport: a better, greener Britain, the government has
set out plans to work with stakeholders to develop a longer-term strategy on how the
uptake and use of low-carbon fuels, including biodiesel and renewable hydrogen, could
support decarbonisation across transport modes to 2050. The strategy is to be published
in 2022.</p>
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