Following the third data collection cycle for the UIC sustainability benchmarking tool, participants have now received their new score and personal Rail Sustainability Index (RSi) reports.
The online tool is provided for free to all active and associate members, with almost 40 companies participating in the campaign, which closed in December 2024. This marks the highest participation level to date, with data coming principally from Europe, but also from the Asia-Pacific and North America regions.
All railway activities were represented, highlighting the importance of sustainability across the sector, whether for those managing infrastructure or operating freight or passenger services. The growing interest in the RSi reflects the increasing demands on companies to benchmark their work and transparently report their sustainability performance. Therefore, the UIC tool is helpful, as it is tailored for the railway industry, internationally accepted, and independently verified.
The 2024 outcomes were shared during a special sustainability reporting seminar, part of the UIC Sustainability Action week, held 10-14 March 2025. In her address, Director for Sustainability Lucie Anderton stated, “The RSI 2024 collection shows impressive action in several areas, and sharpens our focus on areas where we can do better as a community. UIC is here to support members with these challenges, which are best tackled together”. It was revealed that most participants achieved a B score, with highest scorers receiving a B+.
The data provided demonstrates UIC members’ commitment to building a better future, considering environment, economic and governance factors. Each participating company receives a calculated scored after the data collection and verification phases. Data harmonisation is based on common definitions.
Among the 7 selected UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), SDG 5 Gender equality showed that, for example:
- All participating companies already have a non-discriminatory code in place
- Women make up almost 24% of the workforce on average
- The number of female managers and directors is growing, with an average of 27%, increasing since 2021
UIC members take part for a variety of reasons, with many using the tool internally to help review and improve their sustainability strategies. By identifying their strengths and weaknesses, members can target actions for improvement. Others also use their RSi badge externally to demonstrate their sustainability credentials to stakeholders, including to their investors.
As part of their investor engagement sessions, new in 2025, Anderton presented a Rail Sustainability Index certificate to Jernhusen CEO Biljana Pehrsson. Jernhusen AB, which owns and runs railway stations and other buildings attached to the railway network in Sweden, participated in the annual index for the first time in 2024, uploading data for 2021-2023. Find more information here.
Another presentation took place during UIC Sustainability Action Week, with Spanish passenger operator, Renfe, announcing their B+ badge. On belhalf of UIC, Anderton congratulated Adrián Fernández Carrasco, Director of Sustainability and Energy Efficiency, who received the certificate during the high-level plenary panel event.
The UIC Sustainability Department would like to thank all participating members for their involvement in the 2024 campaign, which through its growth is becoming more and more representative.
Additionally, the RSi helps to show how much rail contributes to achieving the UN SDGs, with the aggregated results being published annually in UIC’s Global Rail Sustainability report. Read the 2022 and 2023 reports here and watch this space for the 2024 report, which will be published later this year.
The RSi result underlines strategies and policies implemented by railways, and their continuous efforts to improve.
The next cycle will be launched in July 2025. Join us!
For further information, please contact rsi at uic.org
