CrossCountry launches 10-year sustainability strategy for greener rail travel

Long-distance train operator CrossCountry has launched its 2025 Sustainability Strategy, outlining a bold 10-year plan to make rail travel more inclusive, resilient and low-carbon.

At the heart of the strategy is a major milestone: CrossCountry’s science-based targets have been officially approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). These targets commit the business to cutting direct emissions (Scope 1 and 2*) by 63% by 2035—marking a clear step towards net zero.

Built around three pillars—People, Places and Planet—the strategy is supported by 11 action-focused modules that define where CrossCountry can make the biggest impact.

• People: Creating a diverse, inclusive workforce and making rail more accessible to all.
• Places: Supporting communities through cleaner air, restored habitats, and climate-resilient services.
• Planet: Reducing carbon, waste and water use to shrink the environmental footprint of operations.

Jessica Lockwood, CrossCountry’s Environment & Sustainability Manager, said: “This strategy reflects the issues that matter most to our colleagues, customers and stakeholders.

“Aligning our operations with the latest climate science - while embedding social value and resilience into everything we do - means we’re building a railway that’s fit for the future.”

CrossCountry’s Head of Strategy, Thomas Raynor, said: “Our 2025 Sustainability Strategy is a commitment to long-term change. It’s about making rail the natural choice for greener long-distance travel across Great Britain, while creating lasting value for the communities we serve. This is a strategy built not just for today, but for the next decade and beyond.”

CrossCountry’s purpose goes beyond running trains—it’s about driving regeneration, inclusion and innovation. The 2025 Sustainability Strategy sets the direction for a decade of meaningful change.

Read and download CrossCountry’s new Sustainability Strategy at www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/about-us/sustainability-strategy

CrossCountry