European Year of Rail 2021 - the time is now for rail

Connectivity in and between cities

Rail is a catalyst for both national economic growth and local regeneration. Experience shows the transformative potential railways have on social and economic wellbeing within and between our cities. Networks need to be designed and run as part of the wider, integrated transport system, and reflect the end-to-end journey requirements of passengers.

A brilliant passenger experience

It takes careful and imaginative planning to design and deliver an effortless travel experience. But creating an easy, reliable and affordable end-to-end rail journey experience is crucial to enticing more people to make the switch to rail. A well-designed station can become an emblem of city or town pride and encourages people to move away from fossil fuel-based travel options.

Low carbon mobility

Rail can help propel Europe towards net zero. Climate change and the goal of a sustainable, net zero emission economy are leading every industry to rethink its use of resources. As an operationally low carbon sector, rail is a key part of this transition, but there is much work to do.

There will be a big push to increase rail freight, shifting the movement of goods from roads and air. Hydrogen is being explored as a viable alternative fuel for the rail network. And many networks still need to transition from diesel to full electrification. As our industry works towards net zero, we can guide you towards the low carbon alternatives.

Smarter railways

Railways need to accelerate digitisation to increase competitiveness with other modes of transport, and meet the increasing quality of service customers and regulators demand. We help rail operators to bring digital analytics and insights to their assets, from trains and tracks, to stations and supporting infrastructure. We can also guide you through the sustainable repurposing of assets and identifying the opportunities to introduce easier-to-maintain and efficient alternatives.