Amtrak issues 2023 sustainability report

Amtrak yesterday released its fiscal-year (FY) 2023 Sustainability Report detailing its actions toward achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2045.

In FY23 Amtrak, replaced more than a million gallons of fossil-fuel with renewable diesel, began integrating climate resilience and sustainability design measures into capital projects and finalized plans to host its first clean energy generation facility, according to an Amtrak news release.

“Passenger rail is widely recognized as one of the most sustainable modes of transportation, and we are taking steps to make rail even more attractive,” said Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner. “The emissions reductions already met, and climate goals set forth in the annual report underline our commitment to providing customers safe and reliable travel while further reducing our already-low carbon footprint.”

Highlights from the report include:

• replacing more than 1.2 million gallons of fossil fuel with renewable diesel on California’s state-supported Capitol Corridor, Pacific Surfliner and Amtrak San Joaquin's passenger trains, reducing GHG emissions by roughly 63%;
• adding the first electric bus to Amtrak’s national network of Thruway service on the Pacific Northwest’s Cascades route, reducing annual GHG emissions by 109 metric tons; and
• developing resilient design guidelines for capital and maintenance projects, making Amtrak climate-ready for changing conditions.

The report can be downloaded here.