LNER trims carbon output 9% as it adds 10,000 extra services a year

London North Eastern Railway (LNER) reported a nine‑percent drop in carbon emissions over the past year while expanding its timetable. More than 25 million journeys were made on the London King’s Cross‑to‑Scottish Highlands route, and the December 2025 timetable added over 10,000 services annually and 60,000 extra seats per week on the East Coast Main Line.

Ninety‑six percent of miles were covered by electric overhead lines and the company installed heat pumps and solar panels along the route, helping it move toward a net‑zero target for 2045—five years ahead of the UK’s national pledge. Independent research commissioned by the Rail Delivery Group found rail to be 85 % lower in CO₂ per passenger than flying, save an average £147 per journey, and give travellers roughly three extra productive hours per trip. Stuart Thomas, chair of the LNER Responsible Business Steering Group, said the results show “we can deliver more journeys for our customers while staying firmly focused on our journey to net zero.”