Media centre

Tuesday 14 Mar 2006

NETWORK RAIL ENVIRONMENT AWARDS ARE TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

Network Rail is seeking to reward companies and individuals in the West Country who are on the right track to a sustainable environment.  Rail crime issues such as fly-tipping, improving the environment in your community, and using new technology are all new categories in the Network Rail Environment Awards 2006. TV’s “Tomorrow’s World” and “Robot Wars” presenter Philippa Forrester will present the revamped awards at a glittering ceremony at the Natural History Museum on 12 July 2006.  Award-winning schemes from last year included using acoustic sheets to reduce noise, cutting down waste and protecting the habitat of the great crested newt. Network Rail’s Deputy Chief Executive, Iain Coucher said: “These awards will highlight the very best in environmental practice and sustainability across the rail industry and beyond.  They demonstrate Network Rail’s ongoing commitment to maximise the environmental benefits of the railway. Our aim is to promote any activities that continue to ensure that the railway continues to be the number one sustainable transport choice.” Categories: Biodiversity Protection Award Network Rail wants to recognise the commitment by an organisation or individual towards ensuring that protected habitats and/or species are preserved alongside the safe and efficient operation of the railway. Entries might, for instance, include the creation, enhancement and/or maintenance of habitats, and/or the reintroduction of species.            Efficiency Award Entries are sought from Network Rail customers and supply chain that demonstrate significant improvement in the efficient use of resources (such as aggregates, oil, energy, water, forestry etc), or in the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases or waste. Community Partnership Award Entries should show how a partnership between two or more organisations has helped to improve the local community environment, by tackling an issue on or near the railway. An example might be collaboration between community rail partnerships and other organisations to provide a necessary rural service that has a positive impact on the community.  There will also be many other examples of partnership work. Rail Crime Prevention Award This award is open to organisations and individuals who can show a measurable and sustained drop in rail crime and/or visual impact issues in their area. Entries might, for instance, cover work on reducing graffiti, trespass and vandalism or fly-tipping, and could involve diversionary or preventative activities. Innovation Award A new or novel technology or approach for mitigating or solving an environmental problem on the railway is the target of this award, which is open to organisations and individuals. Individual Contribution Award This award is for an individual from any organisation that has made a significant contribution to improving the environment. The individual could have acted as a champion within a company or could have spent their own time on a project on or near the railway. Team Contribution Award This award is for a team from any organisation that has made a significant contribution to improving the environment on the railway.  The team could, for instance, be ambassadors within a corporate organisation or be a community rail partnership, delivering anything from a change in policy to the restoration of disused rail facilities. To apply please visit Network Rail’s website on www.networkrail.co.uk/environment.  Entries must be received by the 12 May.