Media centre

Wednesday 9 Mar 2005

NETWORK RAIL ENVIRONMENT AWARDS

Region & Route:

National

Cutting down waste, reducing noise and protecting the great crested newt were just some of the schemes recognised at Network Rail’s Environment Awards last night. Network Rail honoured achievements made across the rail industry, which have improved the environment; Chairman Ian McAllister presented prizes before an audience of 132 invited guests at a ceremony in Somerset House. Congratulating the winners, Network Rail’s Chief Executive, John Armitt, said: “Network Rail and the rail industry are committed to caring for and enhancing the environment and balancing this with the need to deliver a reliable and safe railway network.  “These awards recognise the efforts being made to ensure the railway is an environmentally positive mode of transport.” Balfour Beatty Rail Track System took the Innovative Working Practice award for its initiative to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill by 95%.  Edmund Nuttall Ltd took the Innovative Technology honours for investigating methods of reducing noise when grit-blasting bridges and introducing acoustic sheets for the first time on a construction site. AMEC SPIE Route 7 Alliance was recognised for successfully managing waste south of Manchester as part of the West Coast Mainline project.  Many environmental issues were addressed including relocating badger setts, pollution prevention and monitoring work in areas populated by great crested newts. In the train operator category, First Group scooped the prize for a number of initiatives including investment in new engines and enhancing cycling facilities across the network. Cleartrack Salcey Evl Ltd took the contractor honours for its creation of a database of environment information including all the costs involved in the forward planning of vegetation management. They also developed policies on birds, bats and badgers and made the information available to crews.  This was demonstrated during the Roade Cutting Site of Special Interest Vegetation Management project. The Innovative Strategy was awarded to Temple Environment Consultants Ltd for their sustainability appraisal for Thameslink 2000, the first for a railway project in the UK.    This made the link between key environmental performance and benefits, looking at aspects including quality of life, use of natural resources and design elements. Full list of Network Rail Environment Award Winners: Environment Award Winner Innovative Working Practice               Balfour Beatty Rail Track Systems Contractor Cleartrack Salcey EvL Train Operator First Group Train Operator (Most Improved) Eurostar Train Operator (Special Commendation) National Express Group Innovative Strategy Temple Environment Consultants Innovative Technology Edmund Nuttall Innovative Technology (Special Commendation) Amey Infrastructure Services Innovative Technology (Special Commendation) Angel Trains Alliance AMEC SPIE Rail Route 7 Alliance