Hitachi Rail has become the world’s first train manufacturer to attain the rigorous PAS 2080 carbon reduction standard for the design, manufacture, and operation of the 100% electric HS2 fleet.

PAS 2080 is globally recognised as one of the leading environmental standards in infrastructure design and manufacturing.

The British Institute of Standard (BSI) was able to award the standard following verification of Hitachi Rail’s whole-life carbon analysis of the fleet, which includes assessment of carbon management or reduction during design, procurement, manufacturing and operations.

The life cycle analysis of the train concluded that CO2 emissions per passenger of the train will be 90% lower than taking the same journey via car or plane. These emission savings will reduce further as the UK electricity grid decarbonises.

Particular areas of strength in achieving PAS 2080, include:

• Reducing the energy consumption of the trains while in operation by making aerodynamic improvements to the car body and bogies, improving the efficiency of power supplies and air conditioning systems
• Reducing the weight of the trains, in the car body, bogies and wheelsets, and in internal and external cabling
• Increasing the proportion of recycled and recyclable materials across most components

Luca D’Aquila, Chief Operating Officer, Hitachi Rail Group,said: “HS2 trains have gone through a design process of unparalleled rigour – becoming more aerodynamic, more energy-efficient, lighter, leaner, and greener.

“The PAS 2080 accreditation is recognition of our dedicated approach, and it is an approach that we will continue to roll out on projects around the world as part of our commitment to be a climate change innovator.”

Although compliance with PAS 2080 was instituted as part of Hitachi Rail’s HS2 project, the company will apply the lessons learned to future rolling stock projects, allowing Hitachi Rail to raise standards across the global rolling stock market.

At COP26, Hitachi Group set new targets to achieve carbon neutrality throughout its entire value chain by 2050 – bolstering the existing commitment to achieve carbon neutrality across all its business sites by 2030. As a climate change innovator, Hitachi Rail is working to:

• Drive a modal shift onto greener public transport, e.g. through its very-high speed services such as the ETR1000
• Decarbonise public transport e.g. through its battery and hybrid solutions such as the Masaccio train
• Reduce emissions throughout its own value chain, e.g. Hitachi Rail recently signed an agreement to produce 60% of its Italian business’ energy requirements through the installation of solar panels at its sites.

Hitachi Rail is a leading manufacturer of very high speed trains, ranging from the world-renowned Shinkansen “bullet train”, to the ETR1000, manufactured in Italy and now serving passengers in Italy, France and Spain. Hitachi Rail and Alstom have formed a joint venture – Hitachi-Alstom High Speed joint venture – to design, build and maintain 54 trains for HS2 Phase 1.

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