Environment

TransAdelaide believes it is important to look after our surroundings and it is everybody's responsibility to create and maintain a clean environment. Here at TransAdelaide we are taking responsibility for the environment because it is our duty to look after it and there are a number of reasons why; including social, economic and legal. We can all make a big difference by using our cars less and catching public transport.

Environmental Benefits

Everybody is affected by pollution, from the air we breathe to the potential impact of the Greenhouse Effect. One of the best ways to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases is to reduce our use of motor vehicles.

Simply by travelling on one of TransAdelaide's trains or trams can make a much bigger difference to our environment than you might think. Just by taking a trip on one of our trains, rather than using a car, will help keep our air much cleaner.

Not only can this reduce the amount of traffic on the road and the amount of time people spend in their cars, it can help lower the carbon emissions that are produced which in turn helps in the fight against global warming. With today's petrol prices, parking fees and general running costs of a motor vehicle it makes more sense than ever to travel on a train or tram.

Our vehicles are much greener

Research has also shown that trains are up to six times more fuel efficient than motor cars.
Think about a peak hour train of four railcars, carrying around 450 passengers. Those 450 people travelling by train reduce the number of motor vehicles on the road by 300 (based on typical car occupancy rates) and greatly reduce dangerous pollution levels.

As the population increases and the urban sprawl expands, sustaining our environment becomes increasingly more important, and so to does considering how best to travel. Just one train carrying 45 passengers can make a huge difference to the environment.

Friendly fuels

TransAdelaide's trains are fuelled by diesel rather than petrol. This makes them much better for the environment because the emissions from these vehicles are much less than those from private motor vehicles.

With The arrival of the new Flexity trams which replaced all but five of the 'old H series' has now brought our tram fleet into the 21st century. Travelling by environmentally friendly public transport not only benefits the environment, it also saves you money and can reduce travelling time.

Even though our vehicles are more environmentally friendly than motor cars, TransAdelaide is still concerned about the impact of our operations
on the environment. Our entire train fleet now run on biodiesel mixture.

Biodiesel is a cleaner-burning diesel fuel made from natural, renewable sources of vegetable oils or animal fats. Biodiesel helps to reduce greenhouse gas (CO2) emissions and the emissions are safer for people to breathe (Biodiesel Association of Australia 2006).

Off-setting our emissions

As we all know, trees are one of the best ways of removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Since 1992 TransAdelaide has distributed
or planted over 800,000 trees to help off-set the carbon emissions that are created, as a result of providing a passenger rail service.
Investigations are currently underway on how we can further reduce the carbon footprint that we leave on the environtment through identifying and implementing further carbon reduction inititives.

Water Conservation

TransAdelaide is very conscious of water conservation and the current water crisis. The organisation is in the process of implementing strict water saving control measures and holds S.A. Water permits for all required water use applications.

Recycling

Investigations are on-going into refining the recycling of waste materials that are generated during normal operations and maintenance activities. Examples of current recycling measures include recycling used timber sleepers, track ballast, steel and other wastes.

Save Money, Save the Environment

Public transport not only helps to save our environment, but it also provides many other benefits for passengers such as convenience and significant cost savings. If you reduce the number of times you use a motor car and take public transport instead, there will be less wear on your car, more money in your pocket and a healthier environment for everyone!