On 16 September the Department for Transport issued a press release headed ‘Government commissions action to improve rail air quality’. Well, we are all in favour of improvements, and air quality at stations has been a matter of concern for several years, with Birmingham New Street the prime example.
And, of course, you don’t have to be in a subterranean station for diesel exhausts to be noticeable.
Even early in the morning, the tang of idling VP185 diesel exhaust used to assault even my hardened olfactory senses on arrival at the Midland main line’s elevated platforms at St Pancras International.
But the announcement was not about station air quality. According to the press release, Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris had launched a review to ensure that air quality standards and regulations are fit for purpose following ‘concerning findings that air quality on some diesel trains is poorer than desired’. The research behind the ‘findings’ forms part of the rail industry’s Air Quality Strategic Framework, set up in 2020.
AN ISSUE?
Before going on, I should make it clear that I am not blasé about air quality from diesel exhaust fumes, or any traction related fumes for that matter. When InterCity 125 serv…
