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  1. We are WSP
  2. What we do
  4. Railway Sustainability

Railway Sustainability

The use of fossil fuels and the impact of greenhouse gas emissions are challenges faced by transportation agencies worldwide--90% of the fuel used in transportation is oil-based and 50% of the oil produced worldwide is consumed by the transportation sector. These issues directly affect the railway industry.

WSP is committed to being a positive contributor to the quality of life in the communities we serve around the world. Every day, we seek new ways to develop rail infrastructure that is not only safe and reliable, but also preserves resources, protects and enhances natural environments, and promotes social and economic vitality.

Sustainability is one of our priorities when we begin any rail project. We integrate land use and public transit to create vibrant, livable communities. We incorporate energy-saving features in transit systems, develop context-sensitive designs in railways, and apply green construction techniques to salvage and reuse existing materials.

Future-Ready Transit Systems

WSP has experience with hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles and facilities, and we support alternative-fuel bus depots and facilities. We are ideally qualified to provide technical expertise and engineering services to transit agencies and other entities interested in acquiring and operating hydrogen-fueled buses.

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Leaders in Building Green Railways

WSP is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and a sponsor of the widely used Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) sustainability rating system. We have LEED accredited professionals around the world, as well as professionals accredited in other rating systems, such as the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM).

Some of the methods we use to incorporate sustainability into rail transport facilities include:

  • Reducing the emission of polluting volatile organic compounds (voc)
  • Installing solar power units with photovoltaic panels
  • Using fuel cells for efficient power production
  • Maximizing the use of natural lighting and ventilation
  • Collecting and reusing rainwater
  • Using light-emitting diode (led) signals and fluorescent lighting
  • Installing occupancy sensors and/or timers
  • Using regenerative braking, which feeds energy back into a third rail, battery or flywheel
  • Using alternative, environmentally friendly fuels
  • Installing platform screen doors to reduce train heat brought into stations, allowing for a significant reduction in station cooling requirements
  • Creating sustainable development policies and principles

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