Sustainability in Motion

Iarnród Éireann are project partners and part funders of Tern the Tide as part of the CIE sustainability fund. Their project team of Arts and Sustainability officers, Ecologists, and Civil Engineers worked with the Artists from early days of the project. They helped in sourcing old metals from the Iarnród Éireann Port-Laoise Hub to experiment with up-cycling, consulted on engaging with the community, provided expert advice in retaining biodiversity on the sculpture site and provided the eventual decommissioned rail signage which was used to make the 23 birds eventually installed as part of the final Kilcoole artwork.

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As the national rail operator, Iarnród Éireann prioritises sustainable mobility for customers and communities, placing sustainability at the heart of the service and infrastructure they deliver and how it is delivered helping to create a more sustainable, resilient economy for all.

Iarnród Éireann is on a journey to a cleaner, greener and more sustainable future through; 

• investment in new, more sustainable trains.
• expanding electrification of the rail network. 
• increasing use of alternative power sources and fuels both on and off the track.
• supporting circular economy initiatives. 
• Protecting and enhancing biodiversity where possible.
• supporting sustainable procurement and the development of a greener supply chain. 
• targeting an additional 100 weekly freight services by 2040.

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Managing over 4000 km of boundary along the track, Iarnród Éireann are seizing opportunities to protect and enhance their surrounding environment including; 

• Creating pollinator plans stations. One third of stations have pollinator plans in place, with a goal to introduce pollinator plans to all stations. 
• A programme to plant 12,000 trees is already underway at the first Public Lands Native Planting Scheme site in the country, at Carrick-on-Shannon, Iarnród Éireann aim to plant a total of at least 100 acres at non-operational sites by 2030. 
• Equipping Infrastructure teams with the resources and knowledge to better protect biodiversity, including the development of biodiversity guidelines and vegetation management standards reviewed.

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‍If you would like to learn more about the Iarnród Éireann Sustainability Goals visit www.irishrail.ie/sustainability.