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Plastic Waste Becomes 50-Year Railway Sleepers
4 Oct
Summary
- Recycled plastic sleepers offer a 50-year lifespan.
- Project diverts 64 tonnes of plastic per kilometer of track.
- Sleepers are made from 85% post-consumer recycled plastic.
Since 2015, Australia has been developing railway sleepers from recycled plastic waste, aiming for a lifespan of up to 50 years. This initiative tackles both plastic pollution and the need for robust track components. The Duratrack sleepers, a product of Integrated Recycling and Monash University, incorporate about 85% post-consumer recycled plastic, including agricultural and hard-to-recycle materials.
Testing commenced on heritage railways in Victoria before progressing to metropolitan trials. In June 2019, approximately 190 Duratrack sleepers were installed at Melbourne's Richmond station for an 18-month trial. Further tests at Tottenham Junction compared these plastic sleepers against traditional timber ones under real operating conditions.
These efforts led to type approval for low-speed siding and yard applications on key Victorian rail networks. The project also contributed to the new Australian Standard AS1085.22 for alternative material sleepers. Duratrack sleepers have since been implemented at various stations and are part of planned upgrade projects.
The environmental benefits are substantial, with about 1,500 sleepers diverting an estimated 64 tonnes of plastic per kilometer from landfills. Designed for recyclability, these sleepers represent a significant shift towards sustainable infrastructure, with a modular production line planned to increase output.
