Green campaigners praise bank and power company

ROYAL Bank of Scotland and Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) were praised by transport campaigners today for slashing staff air travel and introducing “no fly” months.

BS has cut plane journeys within Britain by 40 per cent this year compared to 2011, and increased train trips by 10 per cent, a report by Transform Scotland showed.

The group also highlighted that SSE had a presumption for rail against air for UK journeys, which was strengthened in the “no fly” months of August and December, when only essential flights were permitted.
Perth-based SSE said it had
increased rail travel by 40 per cent since 2009, including staff taking London sleeper trains.

Transform Scotland urged other Scottish firms to follow the example, and said they should take into account factors such as improved working conditions on trains and their lower emissions, as well as the cost of tickets.

Director Colin Howden said: “It is welcome to see the progress already made by key Scottish companies such as SSE and RBS in switching from air to rail, but many more companies need to follow their lead.”