Northern Rail links energy efficiency improvements to ISO 50001 Certification

LRQA Business Assurance helps UK’s largest train operator achieve reductions in both electricity and gas consumption

Following Northern Rail’s 2011 certification to the new international energy management system standard ISO 50001, preliminary figures have demonstrated improved energy efficiency based on like for like comparisons.

Since implementing ISO 50001, one of the key initiatives has seen Northern Rail undertaking a large amount of work on data collection with the installation of a metering programme across almost 300 sites across their network. As Gareth Williams, Northern Rail’s Energy Solutions Manager explained; “ The metering programme provides Northern Rail with accurate monthly invoice data and access to half hourly information which in turn has allowed better management at site level. ISO 50001 helps us to establish a systematic approach by embedding processes to improve energy performance, including energy efficiency across the whole of the organisation.”

Commenting on the figures, Ian Bevan, Managing Director of Northern Rail said; “ LRQA Business Assurance certification to ISO 50001 has so far helped Northern Rail to reduce our electricity use by over 11% and our gas consumption by over 15%. More importantly, the overall impact on our business is clear through the role that our certified energy management system is playing on leading our Board to agree an entire new approach to reducing energy by allocating specific area energy budgets.”

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Notes to editors

LRQA is a member of the Lloyd’s Register Group. We are a leading independent provider of business assurance services including certification, validation, verification and training. The Group enhances the safety of life, property and the environment by helping our clients to ensure the quality construction and operation of critical infrastructure. It comprises charities and non-charitable entities, which support the charities in their main goal.

Northern Rail is the biggest train operator in Britain, providing 2,500 local and regional train services every day across the north of England, serving a population of nearly 15 million. Northern Rail carries 88 million passengers a year, 38% more than when they started their franchise in December 2004. Northern Rail is operated in joint venture by Serco and Abellio. This joint venture combines Serco’s world-class service credentials and Abellio’s unrivalled transport industry expertise. Serco has run the highly successful Docklands Light Railway since 1997, while Abellio delivers bus and rail services to over 650,000 passengers in the UK, Germany and the Czech Republic every day. In addition to Northern Rail, Serco and Abellio have the 25-year concession for Merseyrail, which provides urban train services in Merseyside.

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