East West Rail achieves new milestone with carbon management certification

East West Railway Company (EWR Co) has achieved an internationally recognised standard for carbon management in buildings and infrastructure.

The PAS 2080 certification recognises EWR Co’s approach to embedding low-carbon thinking across the design and future delivery of the railway. 

The accreditation demonstrates progress in measuring, managing and reducing carbon emissions and costs across a project’s entire lifecycle and value chain - from design and procurement through to construction, operation and maintenance.

Achieving PAS 2080 certification reflects close collaboration across EWR Co and its partners and supports the Department for Transport’s expectations for infrastructure delivery while aligning with the Government’s wider net zero ambitions.

The certification was awarded after an extensive two-phase audit programme carried out during early 2026 - led by James Langstraat, Carbon Technical Lead and Glen Willett, Environmental Systems Manager. 

The accreditation is another key milestone in EWR Co’s commitment to delivering a railway that supports more sustainable travel while reducing its environmental impact. 

Tristan Lincoln-Gordon, Head of Environment at EWR Co, said: “Achieving PAS 2080 certification is an important step for us, showing that we’re managing carbon in a consistent and structured way throughout project delivery and into our supply chain. 

“This certification recognises the work undertaken to embed whole life carbon thinking into how we design and prepare to deliver East West Rail. It gives us a stronger foundation for making informed decisions that reduce emissions while delivering long-term value. 

“Reducing carbon is not something that happens at a single stage of delivery - it requires collaboration across the entire programme and supply chain. PAS 2080 helps create that shared approach and gives us confidence that carbon reduction remains central to the choices we make as the project progresses.” 

Achieving PAS 2080 certification marks an important step in preparing East West Rail for the transition into delivery and strengthens the programme’s ability to consistently achieve low carbon outcomes over time. 

EWR Co aims to deliver a net zero operational railway by 2050. Proposals include using discontinuous electrification on the railway to reduce operational emissions and designing all new stations and depots to be capable of net zero operational carbon from their first day of service. Embedding carbon reduction into early design decisions will make the biggest impact.  

To support delivery of its carbon ambitions, EWR Co will require future supply chain partners involved in major design and construction works to hold PAS 2080 certification, helping create a consistent approach to carbon management across the programme. 

This builds on EWR Co’s existing commitments to industry-wide collaboration on decarbonisation, including signing up to the Construction Leadership Council’s Five Client Carbon Commitments - practical actions designed to help clients and suppliers reduce emissions and support the construction sector’s transition to net zero.

ENDS

Notes to editors

• What is PAS 2080?
  PAS 2080 is the internationally recognised standard for managing and reducing whole life carbon in infrastructure and buildings. It encourages organisations to work collaboratively across the value chain to reduce emissions, improve efficiency and support delivery against net zero objectives. Achieving the standard ensures that carbon is treated as a core design and delivery requirement, not an afterthought. 
• EWR Co is committed to reducing emissions as far as possible in line with the requirements of the National Networks National Policy Statement (NNNPS), ensuring carbon reduction remains central to decision-making throughout the lifecycle of the project. Market engagement continues to play a key role in this work. Through ongoing engagement with industry, EWR Co is building a clearer understanding of carbon maturity, capability and capacity across the supply chain while identifying opportunities to encourage innovation and accelerate best practice. 

• Further information about East West Rail’s carbon commitments

 Media contacts:   

• Press office email: [email protected]  

• Press office phone: 0330 134 0053    

About the East West Rail Project    

The East West Rail Project is a once in a generation opportunity to connect people and businesses between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge through a new direct rail line. It is a railway with community at its heart that will open up new journeys, cut travel times, and ease congestion on local roads. The route will connect people to the things and places that matter, bringing local benefit and sustainable growth by unlocking the social and economic potential of the area.     

The East West Rail Project will be delivered in different phases. Network Rail was responsible for developing the first part of the first phase between Oxford and Milton Keynes, connecting Oxford with Bicester before the East West Rail Company (EWR co) was set up. Between 2018 and 2024, EWR Co and Network Rail partnered in a construction alliance, East West Rail Alliance, to complete the infrastructure to Bletchley. Chiltern Railways has taken over as the operator of this section and are working to start passenger services as soon as possible.        

To deliver the railway onwards from Bletchley to Bedford and Cambridge, a new railway needs to be constructed between Bedford and Cambridge, and associated works are needed between Oxford and Bedford to upgrade and refurbish the existing railway infrastructure. EWR Co proposes to make an application to the Secretary of State for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to permit the construction and operation of these works.         

About the East West Railway Company       

The East West Railway Company (EWR Co) is a non-departmental public body with limited company status set up by the Secretary of State for Transport in 2017 to deliver the East West Rail (EWR) Project.            

The corridor, which runs from Oxford through Milton Keynes and Bedford to Cambridge, is an economic artery that makes the UK a global leader in life sciences, technology and innovation, with the potential to create jobs, drive growth and attract investment for the entire country. EWR Co’s ambition is to unlock the full potential of this region that is vital to keeping the UK globally competitive in a way that considers the environment and offers value for taxpayers.      

East West Rail (EWR) will unlock access to jobs and space for businesses to grow, regenerate town centres, improve connectivity across the region and the rest of the UK, and support new affordable housing.