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  3. Quantifying the economic, social and environmental impact of rail services
London North Eastern Railway Limited (LNER)

Quantifying the economic, social and environmental impact of rail services

As part of train operating companies’ requirement to report on their social value contributions, LNER commissioned Steer to produce a report that described and quantified estimates of the social, economic, and environmental impact of LNER’s passenger rail services in the UK.

The report was intended to show LNER’s industry partners and stakeholders the wider value generated by continued investment in operating LNER’s services and delivering infrastructure and capacity improvements to the routes these services use.

How we helped

We used an Economic Impact Assessment methodology to show how LNER’s impact delivers through direct, indirect, induced, and catalytic impacts. Examples of our analysis including illustrating how LNER’s expenditure on their staff and supply chain is spread across the length of the UK, and a quantification of carbon dioxide emissions saved when passengers use LNER service as an alternative to driving or flying.

The Steer team also conducted several consultation interviews with some of LNER’s Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) suppliers. This helped us understand the economic and social value LNER generates through their use of small and local suppliers.

Successes and outcomes

Our report was written and presented in a user-friendly manner, with the underpinning quantitative analysis based on recognised and robust techniques. Alongside the report, we provided LNER’s team with the evidence base that informed the report for them to use in stakeholder and public engagement exercises.

Steer’s Project Director presented the report to attendees of LNER’s England and Scotland stakeholder forums at ‘hybrid events’ in York and Edinburgh.

Read the full report here.

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Contact an expert

Neil Chadwick

Director
Neil.Chadwick@steergroup.com
Contact an expert

Andrew Bennett

Principal Consultant
Andrew.Bennett@steergroup.com
Steer group

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