Colas Rail UK decarbonisation interview: HVO fuel, low-carbon concrete, SBTi targets for rail infrastructure

Colas Rail UK's Head of Energy and Carbon, Daniel Ditri, outlines the company's strategy to cut emissions across its rail infrastructure, freight, and plant operations. The firm has set Science Based Targets: a 46.5% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 30% cut in Scope 3 by 2030 against a 2019 baseline. Scope 3 makes up 74% of their footprint, so supply chain changes are critical. Key moves include switching to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) for its diesel fleet, which cuts carbon by 83-85%. They hit 6% HVO usage last year and aim for 40% by 2030. On the materials side, they are using low-carbon concrete with at least 50% cement replacement on projects like the Midland Metro Alliance, targeting 95% by 2030. They also procured low-carbon rail steel for the Coventry Very Light Rail project, reducing emissions by up to 72% compared to conventional steel. The article gives a concrete look at how a major rail contractor is balancing near-term fuel efficiency gains with longer-term electrification. It covers the practical challenges of decarbonising a fleet where only 40% of the UK network is electrified, and highlights partnerships with SMEs like Engine Carbon Clean for fuel efficiency improvements.