The Heritage Railway Association has welcomed planning permission for a new mine in Cumbria cautiously as a more rounded approach to coal.

The heritage rail sector uses a very small amount of coal responsibly with a focus on using the best available quality, with the lowest emissions. Unfortunately, attempts to discover alternative fuel options for steam locomotive giants such as Flying Scotsman have, as of yet, not become viable.

The Woodhouse mine in Cumbria has long-awaited approval and marks the latest in a growing understanding of the key UK sectors which have no available alternative for coal which means it is being imported from as far away as Columbia and Australia. As the coal travels such vast distances to the UK it increases its overall emissions providing a prime example of off-shore pollution with up to five times more CO2 emissions than coal mined domestically.

Heritage Railway Association Chief Executive, Steve Oates, said: “This decision does give some cautious optimism for heritage rail, although it’s probably too early to say what the direct impact of approval for the mine in West Cumbria will be for our steam railways.

“The mine is still some years away from production and current plans include a large proportion of the coal being exported. Tests will need to take place with the finished product before anyone can give a definitive answer about its use as a steam locomotive fuel, but there is nothing intrinsic about coking coal that would make it unsuitable.

“What is undoubtedly positive is that the approval represents real evidence that a more mature narrative about coal is finally coming to the fore. A number of sectors that are very important to the UK economy – including heritage rail – still have no real alternative to coal. While everyone is committed to exploring alternatives, ending coal extraction in this country before those alternatives are tested and proven is essentially an exercise in increasing and offshoring overall emissions.”

With contributions of more than £600m to the UK economy every year, the heritage rail sector is also responsible for employing 4,000 people and supporting over 22,000 volunteers. Heritage Railway Association members are the foundation for visitor attractions in a diverse mix of towns such as Bridgnorth, Porthmadog and Swanage, which see more than 13 million visits each year.

Using high-quality, low-pollution coal, steam locomotives produce just a small amount of smoke. Steam coal creates vast amounts of energy alongside high temperatures which are able to be utilised by locomotives. The majority of what leaves a steam locomotive chimney is actually steam which is simply water vapour.

Approximately 8 million tonnes of coal is used in the UK each year for industries such as steel, cement and power generation which is further to the current increase in coal usage in order to cover the evergrowing demand for power as a direct effect of the war in Ukraine.

High-quality, low-pollution steam coal can be found right on our doorstep in the UK with other countries not having the same calibre of coal and therefore, burn lower-grade fuels such as lignite in the process of energy production which creates far more emissions and is considered to be a pollutant of global concern.

Mr Oates went on to say: “The HRA is committed to securing a long-term solution to locomotive fuel that will keep international icons like Flying Scotsman in steam for the public to enjoy for decades to come. It’s unlikely that the answer will come in the form of a single golden bullet, so each step like this new mine in Cumbria is a vital step along the road.”

“In the interim, we’re obviously encouraged that the Ffos-y-Fran mine in South Wales is still producing lump coal for heritage railways and that they intend to seek consent for an extension to the existing mining operation. Additionally, the HRA continues to actively support the research and development work being undertaken by Carbon Products Limited to produce new low-emission coal and biocoal products for heritage steam use.”