Hull Trains’ Paragon fleet is helping to cut carbon emissions

Hull Trains Paragon fleet is helping to cut carbon emissions as it benefits from some of the most environmentally friendly trains in the UK.

Since Hull Trains introduced its Paragon fleet, it has benefitted from a significant reduction in both energy consumption and carbon emissions. This is in line with the company’s commitment to help everyone to travel in greener ways.

The Paragon trains are Class 802s built by Hitachi, and are bi-mode, being powered by both diesel and electricity. They replaced the Class 180 fleet in 2019.

Based on the last six periods of data, the Paragon fleet shows an average energy reduction of 62.3% against the old 180 and HST fleets, or in real terms an average energy reduction of 6.951kWh/vkm versus 2.622 kWh/vkm against the old 180 and HST fleet. Co2 emissions had also reduced, with a 64% reduction in CO2e emitted per vehicle km, or 1.701kg/vkm versus 0.6117kg/vkm.

David Gibson, Managing Director, said: “Travelling by train is the greenest form of public transport and one single train journey can remove up to 500 cars from the road. By investing in trains that can operate using both electricity and diesel, Hull Trains made an investment not only in improved customer experience but also in making the towns and cities we serve cleaner and healthier.”

Travelling by train makes up 10% of journeys but only 1% of travel emissions.

Train 802301 at Hull, new trains to London

Furthermore, trains can reduce the UK’s carbon emissions by up to 7.7 million tonnes every year.

“The next challenge of course is to get that CO2 emissions number even lower, and I will be working with the fleet and the operational teams to make this happen,” added Mr Gibson, “everyone at Hull Trains is working towards the same goal of reducing the impact on our environment and making a real difference to future generations.”

Hull Trains’ announcement comes as the rail industry prepares to showcase its green credentials at the COP26 Transport Day on 10 November 10th. The ‘We Mean Green’ campaign, promoted by the Rail Delivery Group, aims to champion the benefits of train travel to both delegates and the general public. For more information, visit www.nationalrail.co.uk/wemeangreen