Request ID: FOI-0130-2223 Date published: 16 May 2022
You asked
TfL's assessment of the "embodied carbon" cost of constructing Crossrail. Please provide a copy of said study if possible.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-0130-2223 Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 21 April 2022, asking for information about the embodied carbon of Crossrail. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm we do hold the information you require. Total emissions of carbon dioxide from the construction phase of the Crossrail project are estimated to be in the order of 1.7 million tonnes of CO2. More information and supporting documents can be found on Crossrail’s learning legacy website: https://learninglegacy.crossrail.co.uk/learning-legacy-themes/environment/energy-efficiency-and-carbon/ Once the railway is operational, there will be annual savings in the order of 70,000 to 225,000 tonnes of CO2, largely due to the displacement of car journeys and replacement of diesel trains on the existing network. The ‘payback’ period is therefore between 7 and 26 years after opening, with the most likely range being 9 to 13 years after opening, beyond which there will be net savings in CO2. The variation in the figures also factor in possible differences in service operating patterns and specification of rolling stock. Crossrail’s carbon footprint development and measurement provides a benchmark for future rail projects. A spreadsheet based tool was developed to measure the overall carbon footprint through Scope 1, 2, 3 in construction and also over 120 years of operation. A further tool, described herein, was developed to forecast and monitor the ongoing construction carbon footprint (Scopes 1 & 2) to enable the project to determine if it was on target to achieve its target reduction. The Manual and Excel based models for both are included as supporting documents. You can access the manual & excel based models & supporting documents here: https://learninglegacy.crossrail.co.uk/documents/crossrail-construction-energy-model/ Furthermore, Crossrail’s environmental statement can be found at http://www.crossrail.co.uk/about-us/crossrail-bill-supporting-documents/environmental-statement If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please feel free to contact me. Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal. Yours sincerely Eva Hextall FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
