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[November 2007] First and foremost, there is a growing consensus that climate change is a real issue and that we need tackle it now. Two things are clear; firstly, if we carry on in our current trends transport will consume the entirety of the Europe’s Kyoto emissions target by the mid 2030’s; secondly politicians are unlikely to take the political risk depriving people of their mobility. It is therefore becoming more and more apparent that with its three to tenfold environmental advantage over other transport modes, a modal shift to rail, - planes to Inter-City trains, cars to urban public transport and freight from lorry to rail wagon is the only politically tenable means of delivering sustainable mobility.

For this shift to happen rail needs, as part of a sustainable and joined-up transport strategy, to get its act together. We need to become more competitive, to invest in more capacity (including significant new infrastructure), to continue to improve our environmental footprint and, most importantly, to balance these three objectives to deliver the best environmental “bang per buck” for transport taken as a whole. - We must not forget that a full, fast, air conditioned train attractive to passengers at a reasonable price, however heavy and energy hungry in itself, inflicts an order of magnitude less environmental damage per passenger than, for example, a lightweight slow, low energy, expensively priced but unattractive, less competitive and therefore nearly empty train or the alternative transport modes. Nor must we forget that, although investing in new rail infrastructure to deliver more transport capacity (including high speed lines, and electrification) may be expensive in railway terms, if mobility is to continue, such investments have the potential to offer very much better environmental value for money when compared to other transport investments such as new roads and new airport terminals.

Furthermore, solutions to the challenge of climate change will be possible only emerge as a result of the efforts and ingenuity of engineers. As a professional engineering institution covering all modes of transport, we at the IMechE, under our key themes of transport, energy, environment and education must explore and understand the issues, and enlighten and inform decision makers as to the options, balances and trade-offs that might best deliver sustainable mobility. Watch this space as we develop this theme in 2008.

Notwithstanding climate change, even the most pessimistic, modal shift neutral forecasts predict substantial growth for rail over the next few decades. To support this we need to develop more, more competent, engineers and 2007/8 will see the Railway Division pursuing this objective with vigour. We will be developing and expanding our Engineering Passport training scheme and Young Engineers activity is at its highest level ever.

Finally, bearing in mind that almost all the key strategic decisions, regulations and standards affecting the rail industry are now made at European level, that almost all the railway supply industry is pan-European, that most rail operators operate on an international basis and that by 2008 Brussels will be closer to Birdcage Walk than Scotland, the North East, South Wales and the West Country, we will in 2007 start to broaden our activities Southwards to embrace the European dimension.

We look forward to seeing you at one of our many events.

Richard Lockett

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