Following on from Worcestershire Parkway’s anniversary on 23 February, the station has marked another significant milestone – achieving carbon neutral just five years after opening.
The station, developed by Worcestershire County Council with support from rail development consultancy SLC, was designed to minimise carbon emissions in line with the council’s Net Zero Carbon Plan. Now, using data from the RSSB Rail Carbon Tool and analysis by SLC, Worcestershire Parkway has been found to have reached a stage where it is removing more carbon from the atmosphere than was emitted during its construction and operation.
Councillor Marc Bayliss, Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “I am incredibly proud to celebrate Worcestershire Parkway reaching carbon neutrality just five years after its opening. This milestone is a testament to the hard work and dedication put into ensuring the station is not only a hub for sustainable transport but also a model for environmental responsibility.
“The station plays a crucial role in shifting people to greener transport options, reducing congestion, and helping us move closer to a sustainable future across the county.”
Worcestershire County Council, SLC, CrossCountry and GWR representatives met with students from Norton Juxta Kempsey Primary School, who have been involved in the station since it was designed and delivered to mark the milestone.
Sarah Marshall, Depuy Headteacher at Norton Juxta Kempsey CE Primary School, said: “Norton Juxta Kempsey CE Primary School pupils have been deeply involved in the station for some time, from designing hoarding boards before it opened to working on sustainability and wildlife conservation initiatives. We are thrilled to see the station reach carbon neutral status. It has been a fantastic opportunity for pupils to genuinely contribute to their local community and to put into practice all that they learn about caring for their environment. At NJK we work together with the love and joy of God to maximise our unique potential, and we hope that we can continue to make a positive contribution.”
Sam Uren, Director of SLC, said: “Reaching carbon neutral status just five years after opening is a remarkable achievement, demonstrating the power of well-planned infrastructure that does what it intended to do at the outset – encourage people to use the railway instead of cars. We are really proud to see the continued positive impact that Worcestershire Parkway is having on the environment. We will continue to support the Council in continuing in helping make transport connections a sustainable aspect of the of the future for local communities.”
“The ongoing links with the station, rail partners and The Bee Friendly Trust have enriched our curriculum and we’re incredibly grateful for the ongoing enthusiasm shown by everyone involved in maintaining and growing these relationships.”
The station has seen 2 million journeys since it opened which has significantly reduced CO₂ emissions by encouraging a more sustainable transport choice. Worcestershire Parkway’s impact in shifting people to rail saves approximately 1,800,000 kgCO₂e each year – which offsets the station’s annual operational emissions of 145,121 kgCO₂e.
The station also had low carbon usage throughout construction as it was closely monitored and minimised throughout the project. For example, reusing on-site material reduced the need for importing new construction materials and reusing platform piles for the station saved enough carbon to power approximately 60 homes for an entire year .
Operated by Great Western Railway (GWR) and served by both GWR and CrossCountry train services, Worcestershire Parkway offers connectivity, including direct travel to London Paddington and to Birmingham, Cardiff to Nottingham. Its location on the rail network and proximity to the M5 has encouraged a significant modal shift to rail, helping to alleviate congestion and pollution in the region.
GWR Regional Development Manager, Eleanor Wills said: “New stations such as Worcestershire Parkway are vital in bringing the railway closer to people as we all become more mindful to live and travel more sustainably.
“These figures exemplify just how much this station is a real success story, clearly showing how important good, local transport links are for the environment; the local economy; to local people; businesses and the wider community. We’re not stopping here either. We continue to work with the County Council on plans to improve parking facilities here; as well as plans for further new stations at Okehampton, and in the Bristol area.”
Bethan Jelfs, CrossCountry’s Regional Director for West & Wales, said: “Becoming carbon neutral is another fantastic achievement for Worcestershire Parkway station. To have achieved this in just five years demonstrates the value of improved connectivity to the rail network in helping people make better transport choices.
“We look forward to working with Worcestershire Council to continue growing the use of the station by increasing its users’ access to our services.”
Since opening on 23 February 2020, just before the pandemic, the station has exceeded passenger projections by more than a decade, showcasing its role as a key transport hub. In response to its growing popularity, the station has also improved bus connectivity, including an increased frequency on the X50 Worcester–Evesham–Pershore service.
Image Description – Top from left to right: Sullay Mansaray, Customer Service Manager, CrossCountry; Yvonne Wood, Duty Manager for the North Cotswold Line, Great Western Railway; Andy King, Customer Service Advisor, Great Western Railway; Mrs Marshall, Deputy Head, Norton Juxta Kempsey CofE Primary School; Mrs Dean, Headteacher, Norton Juxta Kempsey CofE Primary School; Emily Barker, Head of Planning and Transport Planning, Worcestershire County Council; Zara Farook, Graduate Engineer, SLC; Sam Uren, Engineering Director, SLC. Bottom from left to right: EcoReps Baxter, Phoebe and Genie from Norton Juxta Kempsey CofE Primary School and head pupils Elsie and Bailey.