§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent1762W assessment she has made of (a) the levels and (b) the environmental implications of emissions from diesel trains. [155414]
§ Mr. MorleyEmissions from diesel trains are calculated and reported in the UK's National Atmospheric Emission Inventory produced in the Defra research programme. All UK emissions data are available on the internet: http://www.naei.org.uk.
The main pollutants emitted from the combustion of diesel fuels are carbon dioxide (CO2—a greenhouse gas), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), particulates (PM 10) and Sulphur Dioxide (SO2). The following table shows emissions of these four pollutants for 1990, 1995 and 2001 from diesel trains, from the railway system as a whole (including emissions from electricity generation for electric trains), and from all UK sources.
Pollutant/Source 1990 1995 2001 Carbon as CO2 Diesel Trains 1,889 1,854 1,273 Railway System 6,182 6,521 5,784 UK all sources 585,047 548,616 556,352 NOx Diesel Trains 21 15 10 Railway System 36 28 20 UK all sources 2,759 2,174 1,680 PM10 Diesel Trains 2 1 1 Railway System 3 2 1 UK all sources 309 239 178 SO2 Diesel Trains 3 2 1 Railway System 52 40 19 UK all sources 3,719 2,365 1,125 Emissions from diesel trains have fallen substantially in the last decade. In 2001, emissions from diesel trains accounted for approximately 0.2 per cent. of UK CO2 emissions, compared to 0.3 per cent. in 1990. For NOx the proportion of UK emissions originating from diesel trains fell from 0.8 per cent. in 1990 to 0.6 per cent. in 2001. PM ni emissions from diesel trains accounted for 0.6 per cent. of total UK emissions in 1990, reducing to 0.5 per cent. in 2001. Finally, SO2 contributions have remained about the same over the same time period at about 0.08 per cent. of total UK emissions.
Defra has not assessed specifically the environmental implications of emissions from diesel locomotives because they are a low proportion of total national pollutant emissions. It is however possible that these emissions might have an impact on local air quality. Local authorities have a duty to review and assess air quality outside of buildings to identify areas where it is considered likely that Air Quality Objectives will be exceeded. Some local authorities are now beginning to perform monitoring in the vicinity of rail stations.
Under the new Non-Road Mobile Machinery Directive (97/68/EC) new railcar and locomotive engines are being addressed in two stages, from 2005 to 2007 and then again from 2011. Under the new Directive, emission standards have been set in addition to a requirement for replacement engines to meet the very latest emission limits.