Objectives   

To minimise pollution and associated adverse environmental effects and manage atmospheric emissions from our activities so that acceptable standards are met.

Strategies 

QR has had a successful history in the abatement of greenhouse gas emissions with approximately 1,700,000 tonnes of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions abated since 2000. This saving equates to approximately the amount of gas needed to fill the Melbourne Cricket Ground to the top of the stands over 600 times.

These savings have been attributed to a targeted program on energy and related greenhouse gas emission reduction. While a reduction in the rate of energy consumed has been achieved, in part, from increased patronage of existing services and better utilisation of surplus asset capacity, other significant gains have come from:

• The introduction of new and more fuel efficient locomotives;
• More efficient wagons (higher gross to tare ratio) for coal and other general freight traffic;
• Increased general freight containerisation;
• New and more fuel efficient rollingstock on the Citytrain network;
• Upgraded track permitting more efficient rollingstock and operations;
• Optimised train scheduling and electronic control systems to reduce transit times and delays; and
• Continued driver training in the dynamics and smooth running of trains to maximise fuel efficiencies and minimise maintenance costs.